For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,704 a month against $10.4K in Monaco, rent and utilities included – about $92,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Monaco and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $10.4K in Monaco versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.
Monaco $10.4K
Austin, TX $2,704
Estimated couple costs with rent: $11.9K in Monaco versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.
Monaco $11.9K
Austin, TX $4,133
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $13.5K in Monaco versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.
Monaco $13.5K
Austin, TX $5,562
🌍
Living in Monaco is roughly 286% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monaco678% above, Austin, TX102% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.41€17.32
$20.22$20.22
-4.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$168€150
$85.0$85.0
98.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.48€11.14
$12.35$12.35
1.05%
Cappuccino
$3.80€3.39
$5.47$5.47
-30.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.21€5.55
$3.82$3.82
62.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40€3.93
$2.50$2.50
76.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.16€9.07
$8.06$8.06
26.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.87€7.92
$8.99$8.99
-1.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83€1.63
$1.13$1.13
61.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.29€2.94
$3.78$3.78
-12.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.18€3.73
$3.25$3.25
28.62%
Eggs
$4.79€4.27
$4.14$4.14
15.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.80€12.32
$13.08$13.08
5.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.97€15.14
$14.31$14.31
18.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.13€16.18
$15.96$15.96
13.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23€2.89
$4.38$4.38
-26.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86€2.55
$1.45$1.45
97.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.73€2.44
$4.54$4.54
-39.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.57€3.18
$4.19$4.19
-14.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51€2.24
$2.63$2.63
-4.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85€2.55
$2.36$2.36
20.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89€1.69
$1.76$1.76
7.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$7.71€6.88
$2.16$2.16
256.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06€12.55
$9.81$9.81
43.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.85€6.11
$14.72$14.72
-53.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.45
$2.78$2.78
-41.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56€4.07
$3.48$3.48
31.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.21€1.97
$1.49$1.49
48.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.31€20.80
$40.51$40.51
-42.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$2.67$2.67
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55€1.38
$1.58$1.58
-1.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$90.2€80.5
$35.29$35.29
155.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€2.05
$0.99$0.99
132.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4K€43.2K
$35.8K$35.8K
35.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K€35.5K
$27.2K$27.2K
46.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$422€376
$219$219
92.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.56€37.98
$58.0$58.0
-26.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9€57.0
$68.4$68.4
-6.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$223€199
$57.9$57.9
285.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.1€48.31
$14.82$14.82
265.25%
Cinema Ticket
$13.56€12.10
$14.13$14.13
-4.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,176€1,942
$1,509$1,509
44.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$45.4K€40.5K
$21.5K$21.5K
111.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$151€135
$51.7$51.7
192.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.0€74.9
$44.05$44.05
90.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$169€151
$85.1$85.1
99.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$726€648
$105$105
589.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$9,011€8,041
$1,932$1,932
366.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$8,111€7,238
$1,272$1,272
537.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$16.4K€14.7K
$3,670$3,670
348.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$8,521€7,605
$2,525$2,525
237.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$71.4K€63.7K
$7,617$7,617
836.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$55.0K€49.1K
$3,199$3,199
1619.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monaco
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,805€7,857
$5,105$5,105
72.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
6.79
-52.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monaco: October 5, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Monaco
$8.1K 79%
Austin, TX
$1.3K 48.2% ↓ 84.3%$6.8K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
$528 5.2%
Austin, TX
$346 13.1% ↓ 34.6%$183
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
$509 5%
Austin, TX
$129 4.9% ↓ 74.7%$380
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monaco
$474 4.6%
Austin, TX
$403 15.3% ↓ 15%$71
🍽Eating Out
Monaco
$349 3.4%
Austin, TX
$348 13.2% ↓ 0.3%$1.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
$250 2.4%
Austin, TX
$86 3.3% ↓ 65.6%$164
🚌Getting Around
Monaco
$40 * 0.4%
Austin, TX
$57 2.2% ↑ 42.8%$17
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Monaco
$8.5K 63.3%
Austin, TX
$2.5K 45.4% ↓ 70.4%$6K
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monaco
$571 4.2%
Austin, TX
$404 7.3% ↓ 29.3%$167
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Monaco
$1.1K 8.4%
Austin, TX
$286 5.2% ↓ 74.7%$844
🛒Groceries & Markets
Monaco
$1.1K 8%
Austin, TX
$920 16.6% ↓ 14.6%$157
🍽Eating Out
Monaco
$1.5K 11.3%
Austin, TX
$1.1K 20.2% ↓ 26.6%$405
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Monaco
$555 4.1%
Austin, TX
$187 3.4% ↓ 66.3%$368
🚌Getting Around
Monaco
$84 * 0.6%
Austin, TX
$117 2.1% ↑ 38.9%$33
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $9,011 in Monaco and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monaco pays 72% 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: $168 in Monaco vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $474 vs $403 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.
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
Monaco vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Monaco or Austin, TX?
Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 286% lower than in Monaco. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Monaco or in Austin, TX?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Monaco, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Monaco compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $9,011 in Monaco 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 Monaco compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $10.4K per month in Monaco versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 286% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Monaco compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 74% less than in Monaco. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Monaco or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Monaco 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 Monaco compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Monaco 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 286% less than in Monaco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.