Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Leon: $1,223 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Leon
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,223
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Leon versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Leon $1,223
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,985 in Leon versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Leon $1,985
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,747 in Leon versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Leon $2,747
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Leon costs roughly 54% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Leon is 9% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.17 MX$206
$20.77 $20.77
-46.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 MX$1,020
$84.6 $84.6
-34.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 MX$163
$12.32 $12.32
-28.57%
Cappuccino
$4.03 MX$74.5
$5.63 $5.63
-28.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$28.84
$3.72 $3.72
-58.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.04
$2.50 $2.50
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 MX$56.8
$8.05 $8.05
-61.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 MX$72.6
$9.01 $9.01
-56.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$31.67
$1.12 $1.12
52.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 MX$49.51
$3.75 $3.75
-28.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.31
$3.26 $3.26
-44.79%
Eggs
$3.27 MX$60.4
$4.17 $4.17
-21.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.21 MX$133
$12.90 $12.90
-44.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 MX$140
$14.16 $14.16
-46.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.81 MX$200
$16.22 $16.22
-33.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.03
$4.33 $4.33
-42.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.59
$1.46 $1.46
-5.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 MX$33.76
$4.51 $4.51
-59.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 MX$28.42
$4.34 $4.34
-64.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.75
$2.58 $2.58
-22.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 MX$38.60
$2.35 $2.35
-11.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 MX$25.56
$1.78 $1.78
-22.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 MX$12.89
$2.22 $2.22
-68.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97 MX$129
$9.88 $9.88
-29.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.63 MX$252
$15.08 $15.08
-9.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 MX$43.71
$2.92 $2.92
-18.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 MX$66.7
$3.46 $3.46
4.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 MX$13.93
$1.49 $1.49
-49.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.67 MX$659
$41.72 $41.72
-14.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 MX$51.1
$2.73 $2.73
1.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 MX$50.2
$1.66 $1.66
63.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.96 MX$276
$35.30 $35.30
-57.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.97
$0.95 $0.95
53.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$392.0K
$36.0K $36.0K
-41.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K MX$446.3K
$27.1K $27.1K
-10.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$21.60 MX$399
$229 $229
-90.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.70 MX$752
$59.4 $59.4
-31.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 MX$1,077
$69.9 $69.9
-16.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 MX$1,121
$57.2 $57.2
5.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.51 MX$638
$16.33 $16.33
111.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 MX$120
$14.28 $14.28
-54.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$183 MX$3,386
$1,506 $1,506
-87.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,826 MX$70.7K
$21.5K $21.5K
-82.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$1,049
$52.8 $52.8
7.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.0 MX$1,219
$43.82 $43.82
50.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,868
$84.8 $84.8
19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 MX$2,122
$103 $103
11.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$524 MX$9,681
$1,907 $1,907
-72.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 MX$6,653
$1,274 $1,274
-71.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$761 MX$14.1K
$3,664 $3,664
-79.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$683 MX$12.6K
$2,538 $2,538
-73.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,614 $7,614
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,157 $3,157
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leon
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 MX$9,839
$5,121 $5,121
-89.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
6.79
70.84%

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

Last update for Leon: 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
Leon
$360
Austin, TX
$1.3K 254% $914
Groceries & Markets
Leon
$262
Austin, TX
$405 54.3% $142
Eating Out
Leon
$199
Austin, TX
$354 78.2% $155
Clothing & Footwear
Leon
$152
Austin, TX
$128 16% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
$121
Austin, TX
$358 197% $238
Sport & Entertainment
Leon
$74
Austin, TX
$86 16.5% $12
Getting Around
Leon
$55
Austin, TX
$59 6.7% $3.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $524 in Leon and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 862% 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: $55.0 in Leon vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $405 per month, with Leon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Leon
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
23:57 11:57 PM
00:57 12:57 AM
1 h ahead of Leon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,579,803
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 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
  • Leon Austin, TX 1,090 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Leon
  • 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
Leon vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Leon or Austin, TX?
Leon wins on cost – living expenses run 118% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Leon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Leon or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 862% 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 Leon compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $524 in Leon 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 Leon compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Leon versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Leon compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Leon runs roughly 17% 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 Leon or in Austin, TX?
At $1,223 in Leon versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Leon but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Leon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Leon 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 Leon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Leon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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