Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla Mujeres and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Isla Mujeres: $1,135 a month against $2,689 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Austin, TX, United States
Isla Mujeres
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,135
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,689
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,135 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,689 in Austin, TX.

  • Isla Mujeres $1,135
  • Austin, TX $2,689

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,803 in Isla Mujeres versus $4,112 in Austin, TX.

  • Isla Mujeres $1,803
  • Austin, TX $4,112

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,471 in Isla Mujeres versus $5,534 in Austin, TX.

  • Isla Mujeres $2,471
  • Austin, TX $5,534

Living in Isla Mujeres costs roughly 58% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isla Mujeres is 16% below, Austin, TX is 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.61 MX$198
$21.34 $21.34
-50.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.45 MX$738
$87.9 $87.9
-55.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 MX$148
$12.44 $12.44
-36.41%
Cappuccino
$3.28 MX$61.3
$5.60 $5.60
-41.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$24.21
$3.65 $3.65
-64.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.70
$2.39 $2.39
-62.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 MX$42.41
$7.82 $7.82
-70.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 MX$73.4
$8.75 $8.75
-55.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.00
$1.12 $1.12
28.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 MX$46.93
$3.62 $3.62
-30.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 MX$29.05
$3.50 $3.50
-55.71%
Eggs
$2.38 MX$44.52
$4.45 $4.45
-46.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 MX$149
$13.18 $13.18
-39.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.06 MX$151
$13.94 $13.94
-42.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$199
$16.46 $16.46
-35.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$48.87
$4.73 $4.73
-44.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.83
$1.50 $1.50
-8.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.69
$4.64 $4.64
-61.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 MX$32.10
$4.52 $4.52
-61.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 MX$34.38
$2.55 $2.55
-27.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.89
$2.39 $2.39
-19.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 MX$23.64
$1.84 $1.84
-31.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 MX$18.96
$2.13 $2.13
-52.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$78.6
$10.05 $10.05
-58.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.95 MX$205
$14.88 $14.88
-26.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$30.08
$2.82 $2.82
-42.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 MX$50.9
$3.29 $3.29
-17.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$12.26
$1.23 $1.23
-46.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.36 MX$568
$41.43 $41.43
-26.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 MX$48.96
$2.68 $2.68
-2.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 MX$30.15
$1.63 $1.63
-1.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 MX$152
$35.20 $35.20
-76.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$23.66
$0.98 $0.98
29.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K MX$388.4K
$34.4K $34.4K
-39.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K MX$419.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
-16.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.0 MX$1,066
$252 $252
-77.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.37 MX$418
$59.8 $59.8
-62.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 MX$525
$69.7 $69.7
-59.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.42 MX$681
$60.4 $60.4
-39.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86 MX$297
$18.14 $18.14
-12.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 MX$87.2
$13.75 $13.75
-66.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,880
$1,458 $1,458
-85.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,591 MX$67.2K
$26.6K $26.6K
-86.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 MX$1,009
$52.6 $52.6
2.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.34 MX$755
$45.76 $45.76
-11.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.9 MX$1,662
$85.5 $85.5
3.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 MX$1,459
$106 $106
-26.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$504 MX$9,435
$2,195 $2,195
-77.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 MX$7,366
$1,269 $1,269
-68.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$931 MX$17.4K
$4,000 $4,000
-76.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 MX$14.2K
$2,406 $2,406
-68.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,761 MX$32.9K
$7,381 $7,381
-76.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,172 MX$21.9K
$2,964 $2,964
-60.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isla Mujeres
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,043 $5,043
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
6.82
68.33%

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

Last update for Isla Mujeres: November 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Isla Mujeres
$394
Austin, TX
$1.3K 222% $875
Groceries & Markets
Isla Mujeres
$250
Austin, TX
$407 62.6% $157
Eating Out
Isla Mujeres
$176
Austin, TX
$356 103% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Isla Mujeres
$118
Austin, TX
$130 10.9% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isla Mujeres
$107
Austin, TX
$382 255% $274
Sport & Entertainment
Isla Mujeres
$46
Austin, TX
$88 92.1% $42
Getting Around
Isla Mujeres
$44
Austin, TX
$57 30.9% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $504 in Isla Mujeres and $2,195 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39 in Isla Mujeres vs $88 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $407 per month, with Isla Mujeres cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Isla Mujeres
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
13:16 1:16 PM
12:16 12:16 PM
1 h behind Isla Mujeres
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,174
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18.7 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 21.01 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Isla Mujeres Austin, TX 1,490 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Isla Mujeres
  • 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
Isla Mujeres vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Isla Mujeres or Austin, TX?
Isla Mujeres wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Isla Mujeres the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Isla Mujeres and in Austin, TX?
You’d need roughly $1,702 in Isla Mujeres and $4,034 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Isla Mujeres compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $504 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,195 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Isla Mujeres compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you’ll spend $1,135 per month in Isla Mujeres versus $2,689 in Austin, TX – Isla Mujeres is about 58% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Isla Mujeres compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Isla Mujeres runs roughly 27% less than in Austin, TX. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Isla Mujeres or in Austin, TX?
At $1,135 in Isla Mujeres versus $2,689 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Isla Mujeres but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Isla Mujeres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Isla Mujeres or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Isla Mujeres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Isla Mujeres vs other spots: cost of living compared

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