Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pickering, ON and Austin, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Pickering, ON and in Austin, TX: $2,540 and $2,663 a month, rent and utilities included.

125

Cost of Living Index in Pickering, ON
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Pickering, ON Living Index
130

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

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Pickering, ON

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,540

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,540 in Pickering, ON versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Pickering, ON $2,540
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,563 in Pickering, ON versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Pickering, ON $3,563
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,586 in Pickering, ON versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Pickering, ON $4,586
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Pickering, ON costs roughly 5% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pickering, ON 88% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.80 CA$19.51

$20.77 $20.77

-33.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.7 CA$80.2

$84.6 $84.6

-32.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 CA$14.76

$12.32 $12.32

-15.26%

Cappuccino

$2.03 CA$2.88

$5.63 $5.63

-63.94%

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

$1.59 CA$2.24

$3.72 $3.72

-57.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.20

$2.50 $2.50

-38.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.57 CA$6.46

$8.05 $8.05

-43.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 CA$6.61

$9.01 $9.01

-48.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CA$3.05

$1.12 $1.12

92.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.17 CA$3.07

$3.75 $3.75

-42.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 CA$6.14

$3.26 $3.26

33.44%

Eggs

$3.57 CA$5.05

$4.17 $4.17

-14.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.36 CA$13.23

$12.90 $12.90

-27.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 CA$15.90

$14.16 $14.16

-20.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.82 CA$19.53

$16.22 $16.22

-14.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 CA$4.33

$4.33 $4.33

-29.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 CA$0.75

$1.46 $1.46

-63.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 CA$3.39

$4.51 $4.51

-46.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 CA$2.90

$4.34 $4.34

-52.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 CA$2.91

$2.58 $2.58

-20.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 CA$3.73

$2.35 $2.35

12.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 CA$3.70

$1.78 $1.78

47.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 CA$1.74

$2.22 $2.22

-44.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.32 CA$18.83

$9.88 $9.88

34.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 CA$18.03

$15.08 $15.08

-15.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 CA$2.53

$2.92 $2.92

-38.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 CA$3.24

$3.46 $3.46

-33.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.75 CA$3.89

$1.49 $1.49

84.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$162 CA$228

$41.72 $41.72

287.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$2.73 $2.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 CA$3.10

$1.66 $1.66

31.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.56 CA$30.49

$35.30 $35.30

-38.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 CA$1.53

$0.95 $0.95

13.68%

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

$24.6K CA$34.8K

$36.0K $36.0K

-31.66%

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

$19.7K CA$27.9K

$27.1K $27.1K

-27.18%

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

$102 CA$144

$229 $229

-55.48%

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

$32.94 CA$46.56

$59.4 $59.4

-44.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.68 CA$68.8

$69.9 $69.9

-30.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 CA$82.8

$57.2 $57.2

2.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.42 CA$35.94

$16.33 $16.33

55.66%

Cinema Ticket

$11.11 CA$15.71

$14.28 $14.28

-22.20%

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

$503 CA$711

$1,506 $1,506

-66.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K CA$39.0K

$21.5K $21.5K

28.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 CA$102

$52.8 $52.8

36.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 CA$74.0

$43.82 $43.82

19.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 CA$114

$84.8 $84.8

-5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 CA$111

$103 $103

-23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 CA$2,324

$1,907 $1,907

-13.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 CA$2,031

$1,274 $1,274

12.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,476 CA$3,500

$3,664 $3,664

-32.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 CA$2,961

$2,538 $2,538

-17.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,203 CA$5,942

$7,614 $7,614

-44.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,896 CA$5,508

$3,157 $3,157

23.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,911 CA$4,116

$5,121 $5,121

-43.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

6.79

-37.85%

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

Last update for Pickering, ON: 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

Pickering, ON

$1.4K 56.6%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 11.3% $163

Groceries & Markets

Pickering, ON

$315 12.4%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 28.5% $90

Eating Out

Pickering, ON

$211 8.3%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 67.8% $143

Getting Around

Pickering, ON

$186 7.3%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 68.5% $128

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pickering, ON

$184 7.2%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 95.2% $175

Clothing & Footwear

Pickering, ON

$127 5%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 0.4% $0.5

Sport & Entertainment

Pickering, ON

$81 3.2%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 6.2% $5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,644 in Pickering, ON and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 76% 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: $57.0 in Pickering, ON vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $405 per month, with Pickering, ON cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Pickering, ON

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

03:43 3:43 AM

02:43 2:43 AM

1 h behind Pickering, ON

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

91,771

974,447

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Pickering, ON Austin, TX 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Pickering, ON
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

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

Pickering, ON wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pickering, ON the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 76% 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: $1,644 in Pickering, ON versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,540 per month in Pickering, ON versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pickering, ON runs roughly 287% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Pickering, ON is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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, Pickering, ON 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 Pickering, ON gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.