Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Male and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Male: $1,524 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Male
🇲🇻 Maldives
$1,524
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,524 in Male versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Male $1,524
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,454 in Male versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Male $2,454
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,385 in Male versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Male $3,385
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Male 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: Male 14% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.86 MVR 90.3
$20.22 $20.22
-71.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.10 MVR 587
$85.0 $85.0
-55.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.73 MVR 150
$12.35 $12.35
-21.21%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.73 MVR 72.9
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 MVR 73.7
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.49 MVR 53.8
$5.47 $5.47
-36.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MVR 25.14
$3.82 $3.82
-57.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 MVR 4.80
$2.50 $2.50
-87.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$8.06 $8.06
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$8.99 $8.99
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 MVR 30.50
$1.13 $1.13
75.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 MVR 24.74
$3.78 $3.78
-57.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 MVR 18.59
$3.25 $3.25
-62.77%
Eggs
$1.94 MVR 29.89
$4.14 $4.14
-53.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.48 MVR 162
$13.08 $13.08
-19.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.01 MVR 92.7
$14.31 $14.31
-58.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 MVR 149
$15.96 $15.96
-39.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 MVR 62.5
$4.38 $4.38
-7.53%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 MVR 48.26
$1.45 $1.45
115.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 MVR 61.4
$4.54 $4.54
-12.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 MVR 41.00
$4.19 $4.19
-36.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MVR 31.10
$2.63 $2.63
-23.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 MVR 28.95
$2.36 $2.36
-20.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 MVR 32.75
$1.76 $1.76
20.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 MVR 9.47
$2.16 $2.16
-71.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.24 MVR 189
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 MVR 41.39
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 MVR 29.35
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01 MVR 231
$9.81 $9.81
53.01%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.72 $14.72
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.78 $2.78
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.48 $3.48
-
🚌 Getting Around
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MVR 9.74
$1.49 $1.49
-57.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.22 MVR 466
$40.51 $40.51
-25.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 MVR 30.56
$2.67 $2.67
-25.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 MVR 29.35
$1.58 $1.58
20.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.18 MVR 157
$35.29 $35.29
-71.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 MVR 15.24
$0.99 $0.99
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K MVR 506.6K
$35.8K $35.8K
-8.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K MVR 443.6K
$27.2K $27.2K
5.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 MVR 1,808
$219 $219
-46.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.56 MVR 471
$58.0 $58.0
-47.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8 MVR 1,107
$68.4 $68.4
5.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.0 MVR 1,110
$57.9 $57.9
24.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.45 MVR 531
$14.82 $14.82
132.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.90 MVR 153
$14.13 $14.13
-29.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$185 MVR 2,860
$1,509 $1,509
-87.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,048 MVR 47.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-85.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.25 MVR 605
$51.7 $51.7
-24.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.98 MVR 771
$44.05 $44.05
13.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 MVR 1,323
$85.1 $85.1
0.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5 MVR 794
$105 $105
-51.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MVR 14.6K
$1,932 $1,932
-50.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MVR 10.9K
$1,272 $1,272
-44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 MVR 31.4K
$3,670 $3,670
-44.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,524 MVR 23.5K
$2,525 $2,525
-39.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,282 MVR 35.2K
$7,617 $7,617
-70.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,391 MVR 21.5K
$3,199 $3,199
-56.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Male
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$837 MVR 12.9K
$5,105 $5,105
-83.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14
6.79
106.19%

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

Last update for Male: October 3, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Male
$709
Austin, TX
$1.3K 79.3% $563
Groceries & Markets
Male
$233
Austin, TX
$403 73% $170
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Male
$220
Austin, TX
$346 57.4% $126
Eating Out
Male
$126
Austin, TX
$348 177% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Male
$102
Austin, TX
$129 26.3% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Male
$92
Austin, TX
$86 6.1% $5.6
Getting Around
Male
$44
Austin, TX
$57 28.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $948 in Male and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 510% 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: $38.00 in Male vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $403 per month, with Male cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇻 Male
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
12:42 12:42 PM
02:42 2:42 AM
10 h behind Male
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
103,693 Capital
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MVR – Maldivian Rufiyaa Converter

Maldivian Rufiyaa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 15.42 MVR (100 MVR = 6.49 USD). 1 EUR = 17.29 MVR (100 MVR = 5.78 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Male Austin, TX 16,070 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Male
  • 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
Male vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Male or Austin, TX?
Male wins on cost – living expenses run 77% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Male the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Male or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 510% 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 Male compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $948 in Male versus $1,932 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 Male compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,524 per month in Male versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Male compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Male runs roughly 34% 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 $1,500/month in Male or in Austin, TX?
At $1,524 in Male versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Male but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Male the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Male 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.
How safe is Male compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Male and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Male gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Male vs other spots: cost of living compared

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