Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kawasaki and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Kawasaki: $1,481 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kawasaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,481
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Kawasaki versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Kawasaki $1,481
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,245 in Kawasaki versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Kawasaki $2,245
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,009 in Kawasaki versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Kawasaki $3,009
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Kawasaki costs roughly 44% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kawasaki 10% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 ¥1,220
$20.77 $20.77
-62.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.50 ¥5,924
$84.6 $84.6
-55.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.02 ¥793
$12.32 $12.32
-59.25%
Cappuccino
$2.69 ¥426
$5.63 $5.63
-52.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ¥251
$3.72 $3.72
-57.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥137
$2.50 $2.50
-65.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.22 ¥509
$8.05 $8.05
-60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 ¥484
$9.01 $9.01
-66.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ¥241
$1.12 $1.12
35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 ¥244
$3.75 $3.75
-58.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.23 ¥669
$3.26 $3.26
29.75%
Eggs
$2.11 ¥333
$4.17 $4.17
-49.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.09 ¥1,751
$12.90 $12.90
-14.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 ¥1,047
$14.16 $14.16
-53.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.37 ¥2,587
$16.22 $16.22
0.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.27 ¥991
$4.33 $4.33
44.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 ¥428
$1.46 $1.46
85.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.95 ¥783
$4.51 $4.51
9.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.33 ¥842
$4.34 $4.34
22.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.27 ¥517
$2.58 $2.58
26.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 ¥483
$2.35 $2.35
30.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 ¥179
$1.78 $1.78
-35.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥130
$2.22 $2.22
-63.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83 ¥605
$9.88 $9.88
-61.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.39 ¥1,483
$15.08 $15.08
-37.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 ¥377
$2.92 $2.92
-18.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥429
$3.46 $3.46
-21.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.90 ¥300
$1.49 $1.49
27.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.1 ¥8,072
$41.72 $41.72
22.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 ¥485
$2.73 $2.73
12.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.06 ¥484
$1.66 $1.66
84.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.85 ¥2,978
$35.30 $35.30
-46.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥167
$0.95 $0.95
11.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K ¥3.5M
$36.0K $36.0K
-39.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K ¥2.4M
$27.1K $27.1K
-43.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ¥19.6K
$229 $229
-45.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.61 ¥3,729
$59.4 $59.4
-60.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.45 ¥4,810
$69.9 $69.9
-56.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ¥8,560
$57.2 $57.2
-5.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.22 ¥982
$16.33 $16.33
-61.91%
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 ¥1,925
$14.28 $14.28
-14.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 ¥89.8K
$1,506 $1,506
-62.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K ¥2.3M
$21.5K $21.5K
-32.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 ¥7,914
$52.8 $52.8
-5.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.45 ¥5,285
$43.82 $43.82
-23.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 ¥10.2K
$84.8 $84.8
-24.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 ¥11.2K
$103 $103
-31.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$754 ¥119.2K
$1,907 $1,907
-60.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 ¥90.9K
$1,274 $1,274
-54.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 ¥202.4K
$3,664 $3,664
-65.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,021 ¥161.2K
$2,538 $2,538
-59.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,698 ¥742.2K
$7,614 $7,614
-38.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,131 ¥494.7K
$3,157 $3,157
-0.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kawasaki
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,542 ¥401.6K
$5,121 $5,121
-50.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.02
6.79
-70.25%

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

Last update for Kawasaki: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kawasaki
$576
Austin, TX
$1.3K 121% $698
Groceries & Markets
Kawasaki
$332
Austin, TX
$405 21.8% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kawasaki
$178
Austin, TX
$358 101% $180
Eating Out
Kawasaki
$141
Austin, TX
$354 151% $213
Clothing & Footwear
Kawasaki
$98
Austin, TX
$128 30% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Kawasaki
$79
Austin, TX
$86 9.2% $7.3
Getting Around
Kawasaki
$77
Austin, TX
$59 23.8% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $754 in Kawasaki and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 101% 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: $37.00 in Kawasaki vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 vs $405 per month, with Kawasaki cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Kawasaki
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
10:28 10:28 AM
20:28 8:28 PM
14 h behind Kawasaki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,538,262
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kawasaki Austin, TX 10,550 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kawasaki
  • 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
Kawasaki vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kawasaki or Austin, TX?
Kawasaki wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kawasaki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kawasaki or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 101% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kawasaki compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $754 in Kawasaki versus $1,907 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 Kawasaki compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,481 per month in Kawasaki versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kawasaki compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Kawasaki runs roughly 22% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kawasaki or in Austin, TX?
At $1,481 in Kawasaki versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kawasaki but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kawasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kawasaki or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kawasaki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,481 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kawasaki hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kawasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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