Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Laoag City and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Laoag City: $743 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Laoag City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$743
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $743 in Laoag City versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Laoag City $743
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,112 in Laoag City versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Laoag City $1,112
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Laoag City versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Laoag City $1,480
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Laoag City costs roughly 72% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Laoag City is 45% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 ₱215
$20.77 $20.77
-83.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.52 ₱1,040
$84.6 $84.6
-80.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.94 ₱185
$12.32 $12.32
-76.14%
Cappuccino
$2.54 ₱160
$5.63 $5.63
-54.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₱42.11
$3.72 $3.72
-81.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.52
$2.50 $2.50
-86.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.00 ₱63.3
$8.05 $8.05
-87.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₱117
$9.01 $9.01
-79.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 ₱102
$1.12 $1.12
45.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 ₱73.8
$3.75 $3.75
-68.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱58.1
$3.26 $3.26
-71.78%
Eggs
$1.95 ₱123
$4.17 $4.17
-53.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.25 ₱331
$12.90 $12.90
-59.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.30 ₱271
$14.16 $14.16
-69.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.24 ₱456
$16.22 $16.22
-55.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 ₱152
$4.33 $4.33
-44.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 ₱103
$1.46 $1.46
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.44 ₱154
$4.51 $4.51
-45.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ₱74.6
$4.34 $4.34
-72.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 ₱122
$2.58 $2.58
-24.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 ₱119
$2.35 $2.35
-20.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$1.78 $1.78
-43.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₱33.73
$2.22 $2.22
-75.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 ₱182
$9.88 $9.88
-70.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.37 ₱464
$15.08 $15.08
-51.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₱59.5
$2.92 $2.92
-67.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₱122
$3.46 $3.46
-43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.39
$1.49 $1.49
-82.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.99 ₱755
$41.72 $41.72
-71.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₱45.76
$2.73 $2.73
-73.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱15.14
$1.66 $1.66
-85.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.19 ₱138
$35.30 $35.30
-93.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 ₱64.6
$0.95 $0.95
8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₱1.4M
$36.0K $36.0K
-39.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$27.1K $27.1K
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 ₱8,542
$229 $229
-40.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.48 ₱912
$59.4 $59.4
-75.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.79 ₱1,561
$69.9 $69.9
-64.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.51 ₱2,047
$57.2 $57.2
-43.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.10 ₱321
$16.33 $16.33
-68.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.03 ₱316
$14.28 $14.28
-64.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$133 ₱8,385
$1,506 $1,506
-91.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,190 ₱515.6K
$21.5K $21.5K
-61.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.49 ₱2,108
$52.8 $52.8
-36.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.72 ₱1,242
$43.82 $43.82
-55.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.2 ₱4,481
$84.8 $84.8
-16.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.3 ₱3,483
$103 $103
-46.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₱17.0K
$1,907 $1,907
-85.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 ₱10.8K
$1,274 $1,274
-86.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 ₱32.3K
$3,664 $3,664
-86.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ₱20.7K
$2,538 $2,538
-87.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,434 ₱153.3K
$7,614 $7,614
-68.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,087 ₱68.4K
$3,157 $3,157
-65.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laoag City
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$162 ₱10.2K
$5,121 $5,121
-96.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
6.79
-

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

Last update for Laoag City: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Laoag City
$179
Austin, TX
$405 126% $225
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laoag City
$175
Austin, TX
$358 105% $183
Accommodation & Living
Laoag City
$171
Austin, TX
$1.3K 644% $1.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Laoag City
$81
Austin, TX
$128 58.3% $47
Eating Out
Laoag City
$79
Austin, TX
$354 346% $275
Sport & Entertainment
Laoag City
$43
Austin, TX
$86 102% $43
Getting Around
Laoag City
$15
Austin, TX
$59 292% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Laoag City and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 3064% 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: $17.00 in Laoag City vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $405 per month, with Laoag City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Laoag City
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
22:12 10:12 PM
09:12 9:12 AM
13 h behind Laoag City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
112,117
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Laoag City Austin, TX 13,240 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Laoag City
  • 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
Laoag City vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Laoag City or Austin, TX?
Laoag City wins on cost – living expenses run 258% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Laoag City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Laoag City or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 3064% 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 Laoag City compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Laoag City 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 Laoag City compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $743 per month in Laoag City versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 258% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Laoag City compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Laoag City runs roughly 248% 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 Laoag City or in Austin, TX?
At $743 in Laoag City versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Laoag City but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Laoag City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Laoag City 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 Laoag City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 258% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Laoag City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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