Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ostend and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Ostend: $1,810 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ostend
🇧🇪 Belgium
$1,810
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,810 in Ostend versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Ostend $1,810
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,702 in Ostend versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Ostend $2,702
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,595 in Ostend versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Ostend $3,595
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Ostend costs roughly 32% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostend 34% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.10 €19.74
$20.77 $20.77
6.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 €70.6
$84.6 $84.6
-6.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.18 €9.98
$12.32 $12.32
-9.25%
Cappuccino
$4.09 €3.66
$5.63 $5.63
-27.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.68
$3.72 $3.72
-19.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 €2.25
$2.50 $2.50
0.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.40 €3.93
$8.05 $8.05
-45.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 €4.01
$9.01 $9.01
-50.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 €1.09
$1.12 $1.12
8.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.69 €2.41
$3.75 $3.75
-28.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 €1.86
$3.26 $3.26
-36.20%
Eggs
$3.73 €3.33
$4.17 $4.17
-10.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.69 €10.44
$12.90 $12.90
-9.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.77 €10.51
$14.16 $14.16
-16.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 €12.02
$16.22 $16.22
-17.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 €2.53
$4.33 $4.33
-34.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.46 $1.46
46.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 €1.92
$4.51 $4.51
-52.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 €2.07
$4.34 $4.34
-46.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.64
$2.58 $2.58
-28.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 €1.53
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 €1.09
$1.78 $1.78
-31.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.82
$2.22 $2.22
-58.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.12 €9.04
$9.88 $9.88
2.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.86 €6.13
$15.08 $15.08
-54.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.87
$2.92 $2.92
-28.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.64
$3.46 $3.46
-46.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.39 €3.03
$1.49 $1.49
127.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.31 €34.22
$41.72 $41.72
-8.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.38 €3.02
$2.73 $2.73
23.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 €2.05
$1.66 $1.66
37.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.03 €22.36
$35.30 $35.30
-29.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.74
$0.95 $0.95
105.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K €30.9K
$36.0K $36.0K
-4.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K €27.3K
$27.1K $27.1K
12.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 €157
$229 $229
-23.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.08 €16.15
$59.4 $59.4
-69.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 €47.43
$69.9 $69.9
-24.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.39 €32.50
$57.2 $57.2
-36.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02 €9.84
$16.33 $16.33
-32.52%
Cinema Ticket
$14.36 €12.82
$14.28 $14.28
0.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$391 €350
$1,506 $1,506
-74.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €14.3K
$21.5K $21.5K
-25.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4 €88.7
$52.8 $52.8
88.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.26 €23.46
$43.82 $43.82
-40.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.8 €78.4
$84.8 $84.8
3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$103 $103
16.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$792 €707
$1,907 $1,907
-58.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 €601
$1,274 $1,274
-47.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 €1,112
$3,664 $3,664
-66.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$987 €882
$2,538 $2,538
-61.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,674 €3,282
$7,614 $7,614
-51.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,918 €1,713
$3,157 $3,157
-39.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostend
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,097 €2,767
$5,121 $5,121
-39.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.33
6.79
-50.96%

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

Last update for Ostend: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ostend
$673
Austin, TX
$1.3K 89.4% $602
Eating Out
Ostend
$312
Austin, TX
$354 13.3% $41
Groceries & Markets
Ostend
$297
Austin, TX
$405 36.4% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostend
$247
Austin, TX
$358 45.2% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Ostend
$150
Austin, TX
$128 14.8% $22
Getting Around
Ostend
$67
Austin, TX
$59 12% $8
Sport & Entertainment
Ostend
$65
Austin, TX
$86 31.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $792 in Ostend and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 65% 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: $79.0 in Ostend vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $405 per month, with Ostend cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇪 Ostend
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
09:41 9:41 AM
02:41 2:41 AM
7 h behind Ostend
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,600
974,447
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ostend Austin, TX 8,110 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ostend
  • 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
Ostend vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ostend or Austin, TX?
Ostend wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ostend the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ostend or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 65% 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 Ostend compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $792 in Ostend 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 Ostend compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,810 per month in Ostend versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ostend compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Ostend runs roughly 9% 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 $3,000/month in Ostend or in Austin, TX?
At $1,810 in Ostend versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Ostend but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ostend the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ostend 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 Ostend compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Ostend 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 Ostend gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ostend vs other spots: cost of living compared

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