Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Harrisonburg, VA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Harrisonburg, VA: $2,427 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

119

Cost of Living Index in Harrisonburg, VA
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Harrisonburg, VA Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Harrisonburg, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,427

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Harrisonburg, VA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Harrisonburg, VA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,427 in Harrisonburg, VA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Harrisonburg, VA $2,427
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,287 in Harrisonburg, VA versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Harrisonburg, VA $3,287
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,148 in Harrisonburg, VA versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Harrisonburg, VA $4,148
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Harrisonburg, VA costs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Harrisonburg, VA 80% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.70 $23.70

$20.77 $20.77

14.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.4 $68.4

$84.6 $84.6

-19.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 $9.26

$12.32 $12.32

-24.84%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$5.63 $5.63

-10.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.72 $3.72

-28.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.50 $2.50

-18.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.05 $8.05

-14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$9.01 $9.01

-10.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.12 $1.12

-15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.75 $3.75

-16.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.26 $3.26

19.33%

Eggs

$5.28 $5.28

$4.17 $4.17

26.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 $10.02

$12.90 $12.90

-22.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$14.16 $14.16

-46.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.61 $18.61

$16.22 $16.22

14.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.33 $4.33

-13.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.46 $1.46

-1.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.51 $4.51

-10.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.34 $4.34

-17.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.58 $2.58

-3.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.35 $2.35

-5.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.78 $1.78

35.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.22 $2.22

-10.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 $6.51

$9.88 $9.88

-34.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 $11.43

$15.08 $15.08

-24.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.92 $2.92

-29.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.46 $3.46

-21.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.49 $1.49

36.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.05 $25.05

$41.72 $41.72

-39.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.73 $2.73

-7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.66 $1.66

-9.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.27 $22.27

$35.30 $35.30

-36.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.95 $0.95

2.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K $35.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

-0.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.1K $27.1K

-6.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$135 $135

$229 $229

-40.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$59.4 $59.4

3.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 $71.8

$69.9 $69.9

2.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.66 $45.66

$57.2 $57.2

-20.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$14.28 $14.28

3.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$806 $806

$1,506 $1,506

-46.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K $30.7K

$21.5K $21.5K

43.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.2 $70.2

$52.8 $52.8

32.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.35 $46.35

$43.82 $43.82

5.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$84.8 $84.8

4.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$103 $103

6.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,266 $1,266

$1,907 $1,907

-33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 $1,204

$1,274 $1,274

-5.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 $1,811

$3,664 $3,664

-50.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,412 $1,412

$2,538 $2,538

-44.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,128 $2,128

$7,614 $7,614

-72.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,153 $2,153

$3,157 $3,157

-31.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,152 $4,152

$5,121 $5,121

-18.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.79

-4.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Harrisonburg, VA: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Harrisonburg, VA

$1.2K 49.6%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 5.8% $70

Eating Out

Harrisonburg, VA

$347 14.3%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 1.9% $6.6

Groceries & Markets

Harrisonburg, VA

$347 14.3%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 16.7% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Harrisonburg, VA

$268 11.1%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 33.5% $90

Clothing & Footwear

Harrisonburg, VA

$142 5.8%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 9.6% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Harrisonburg, VA

$75 3.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 13.9% $10

Getting Around

Harrisonburg, VA

$43 1.8%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 35.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,266 in Harrisonburg, VA and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $68.0 in Harrisonburg, VA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 vs $405 per month, with Harrisonburg, VA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Harrisonburg, VA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

05:43 5:43 AM

04:43 4:43 AM

1 h behind Harrisonburg, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

54,215

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Harrisonburg, VA Austin, TX 1,950 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Harrisonburg, VA
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Harrisonburg, VA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Harrisonburg, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Harrisonburg, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,266 in Harrisonburg, VA versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,427 per month in Harrisonburg, VA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Harrisonburg, VA runs roughly 67% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,427 in Harrisonburg, VA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Harrisonburg, VA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Harrisonburg, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Harrisonburg, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.