Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kimberley and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Kimberley: $1,128 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

55

Cost of Living Index in Kimberley
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Kimberley Living Index
130

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

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Kimberley

🇿🇦 South Africa

$1,128

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,128 in Kimberley versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Kimberley $1,128
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Kimberley versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Kimberley $1,905
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,683 in Kimberley versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Kimberley $2,683
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Kimberley costs roughly 58% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kimberley is 16% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.22 R 201

$20.77 $20.77

-41.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.40 R 600

$84.6 $84.6

-56.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.91 R 97.3

$12.32 $12.32

-52.03%

Cappuccino

$3.02 R 49.76

$5.63 $5.63

-46.36%

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

$1.32 R 21.67

$3.72 $3.72

-64.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 R 20.96

$2.50 $2.50

-49.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 R 45.76

$8.05 $8.05

-65.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 R 45.40

$9.01 $9.01

-69.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 R 25.08

$1.12 $1.12

35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 R 19.09

$3.75 $3.75

-69.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 R 49.58

$3.26 $3.26

-7.67%

Eggs

$2.88 R 47.44

$4.17 $4.17

-30.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 R 109

$12.90 $12.90

-48.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 R 96.2

$14.16 $14.16

-58.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 R 142

$16.22 $16.22

-46.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 R 36.86

$4.33 $4.33

-48.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 R 40.59

$1.46 $1.46

68.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 R 29.02

$4.51 $4.51

-60.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.33 R 54.9

$4.34 $4.34

-23.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 R 24.20

$2.58 $2.58

-43.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 R 23.42

$2.35 $2.35

-39.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 R 22.03

$1.78 $1.78

-24.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 R 14.25

$2.22 $2.22

-61.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 R 50.9

$9.88 $9.88

-68.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 R 107

$15.08 $15.08

-56.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 R 36.48

$2.92 $2.92

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 R 45.98

$3.46 $3.46

-19.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 R 24.97

$1.49 $1.49

2.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.35 R 549

$41.72 $41.72

-20.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 R 9.57

$2.73 $2.73

-78.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 R 14.57

$1.66 $1.66

-46.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 R 191

$35.30 $35.30

-67.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 R 22.88

$0.95 $0.95

46.32%

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

$35.2K R 579.7K

$36.0K $36.0K

-2.40%

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

$31.7K R 522.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

17.02%

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

$105 R 1,734

$229 $229

-54.04%

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

$34.81 R 573

$59.4 $59.4

-41.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.50 R 700

$69.9 $69.9

-39.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.96 R 378

$57.2 $57.2

-59.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.87 R 179

$16.33 $16.33

-33.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.27 R 120

$14.28 $14.28

-49.09%

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

$242 R 3,985

$1,506 $1,506

-83.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,516 R 90.9K

$21.5K $21.5K

-74.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 R 871

$52.8 $52.8

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.01 R 544

$43.82 $43.82

-24.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 R 1,626

$84.8 $84.8

16.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 R 1,438

$103 $103

-15.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 R 4,378

$1,907 $1,907

-86.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 R 5,472

$1,274 $1,274

-73.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 R 10.5K

$3,664 $3,664

-82.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$940 R 15.5K

$2,538 $2,538

-62.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 R 14.6K

$7,614 $7,614

-88.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$649 R 10.7K

$3,157 $3,157

-79.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$935 R 15.4K

$5,121 $5,121

-81.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.79

61.12%

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

Last update for Kimberley: 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

Kimberley

$332 29.5%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 284% $942

Groceries & Markets

Kimberley

$228 20.2%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 77.8% $177

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kimberley

$183 16.2%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 96.3% $176

Eating Out

Kimberley

$181 16.1%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 95% $172

Clothing & Footwear

Kimberley

$122 10.9%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 4.6% $5.6

Getting Around

Kimberley

$44 3.9%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 32.1% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Kimberley

$38 3.3%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 129% $48

Cost Breakdown

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

Austin, TX pays 448% 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: $36.00 in Kimberley vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $405 per month, with Kimberley cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇿🇦 Kimberley

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

10:36 10:36 AM

03:36 3:36 AM

7 h behind Kimberley

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

225,160

974,447

💱 Currency

South African Rand ZAR R

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 ZAR = 6.07 USD

100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ZAR – South African Rand Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇿🇦 South African Rand (R)

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to ZAR in detail →

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Between locations

Kimberley Austin, TX 14,510 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Kimberley
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

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

Kimberley wins on cost – living expenses run 136% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kimberley the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 448% 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: $266 in Kimberley 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 $1,128 per month in Kimberley versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kimberley runs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,128 in Kimberley versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kimberley but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kimberley 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 Kimberley gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.