Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Phoenix: $823 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $22,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

49

Cost of Living Index in Phoenix
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Phoenix Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Phoenix

🇲🇺 Mauritius

$823

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $823 in Phoenix versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Phoenix $823
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,303 in Phoenix versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Phoenix $1,303
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,783 in Phoenix versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Phoenix $1,783
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Phoenix costs roughly 69% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phoenix is 39% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 MUR 99.7

$20.77 $20.77

-89.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.62 MUR 1,489

$84.6 $84.6

-62.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 MUR 344

$12.32 $12.32

-40.67%

Cappuccino

$5.18 MUR 244

$5.63 $5.63

-7.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MUR 28.29

$3.72 $3.72

-83.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 MUR 25.79

$2.50 $2.50

-78.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 MUR 96.4

$8.05 $8.05

-74.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 MUR 249

$9.01 $9.01

-41.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 MUR 68.0

$1.12 $1.12

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 MUR 19.01

$3.75 $3.75

-89.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MUR 101

$3.26 $3.26

-33.74%

Eggs

$4.91 MUR 231

$4.17 $4.17

17.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 MUR 387

$14.16 $14.16

-42.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.45 MUR 304

$16.22 $16.22

-60.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.50 MUR 353

$4.33 $4.33

73.21%

Banana (1kg)

$3.88 MUR 183

$1.46 $1.46

165.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 MUR 215

$4.51 $4.51

1.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 MUR 70.0

$4.34 $4.34

-65.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 MUR 40.12

$2.58 $2.58

-67.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 MUR 40.69

$2.35 $2.35

-63.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 MUR 34.03

$1.78 $1.78

-59.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 MUR 35.76

$2.22 $2.22

-65.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MUR 489

$15.08 $15.08

-31.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 MUR 95.9

$2.92 $2.92

-30.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 MUR 50.7

$1.49 $1.49

-27.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.33 MUR 486

$41.72 $41.72

-75.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 MUR 68.7

$1.66 $1.66

-12.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 MUR 62.5

$0.95 $0.95

40.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.01 MUR 659

$59.4 $59.4

-76.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.77 MUR 1,166

$69.9 $69.9

-64.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.58 MUR 1,204

$57.2 $57.2

-55.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$5.21 MUR 245

$14.28 $14.28

-63.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,506 $1,506

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 MUR 2,511

$52.8 $52.8

0.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.7 MUR 2,481

$43.82 $43.82

20.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 MUR 24.8K

$1,907 $1,907

-72.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MUR 14.6K

$1,274 $1,274

-75.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$831 MUR 39.1K

$3,664 $3,664

-77.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 MUR 25.2K

$2,538 $2,538

-78.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$959 MUR 45.1K

$5,121 $5,121

-81.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

-26.36%

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

Last update for Phoenix: 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

Phoenix

$311 37.8%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 310% $963

Groceries & Markets

Phoenix

$241 * 29.3%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 67.9% $164

Eating Out

Phoenix

$126 15.4%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 180% $227

Clothing & Footwear

Phoenix

$48 * 5.8%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 168% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phoenix

$39 * 4.7%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 824% $320

Sport & Entertainment

Phoenix

$36 4.4%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 138% $50

Getting Around

Phoenix

$22 * 2.7%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 168% $37

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 $526 in Phoenix and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 434% 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: $32.00 in Phoenix vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $405 per month, with Phoenix cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇺 Phoenix

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

16:29 4:29 PM

07:29 7:29 AM

9 h behind Phoenix

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

115,289

974,447

💱 Currency

Mauritian Rupee MUR ₨

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 MUR = 2.12 USD

100 MUR = 1.89 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MUR – Mauritian Rupee Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇺 Mauritian Rupee (₨)

Mauritian Rupee exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 47.08 MUR (100 MUR = 2.12 USD). 1 EUR = 52.93 MUR (100 MUR = 1.89 EUR).

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

USD to MUR in detail →

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Between locations

Phoenix Austin, TX 17,300 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Phoenix
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

Phoenix vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phoenix wins on cost – living expenses run 224% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phoenix the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 434% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Phoenix versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Phoenix – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Phoenix runs roughly 304% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $823 in Phoenix versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Phoenix but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Phoenix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phoenix 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.

Expats usually find Phoenix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.