Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Alegre and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Porto Alegre: $196 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $30,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Porto Alegre
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe
$196
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $196 in Porto Alegre versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Porto Alegre $196
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $413 in Porto Alegre versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Porto Alegre $413
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $629 in Porto Alegre versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Porto Alegre $629
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Porto Alegre costs roughly 93% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Porto Alegre is 85% below, Austin, TX is 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$20.22 $20.22
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.08 STN 810
$85.0 $85.0
-56.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.55 STN 121
$12.35 $12.35
-55.06%
Cappuccino
$2.55 STN 55.6
$5.47 $5.47
-53.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 STN 23.63
$3.82 $3.82
-71.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 STN 18.12
$2.50 $2.50
-66.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 STN 48.11
$8.06 $8.06
-72.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$8.99 $8.99
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.13 $1.13
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 STN 44.73
$3.78 $3.78
-45.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 STN 22.52
$3.25 $3.25
-68.31%
Eggs
$2.23 STN 48.67
$4.14 $4.14
-46.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.97 STN 415
$13.08 $13.08
45.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$14.31 $14.31
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.16 STN 266
$15.96 $15.96
-23.81%
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.38 $4.38
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.45 $1.45
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$4.54 $4.54
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$4.19 $4.19
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.63 $2.63
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.36 $2.36
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.76 $1.76
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 $2.16
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 STN 48.45
$9.81 $9.81
-77.37%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.72 $14.72
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 STN 24.22
$2.78 $2.78
-60.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.48 $3.48
-
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.49 $1.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.51 $40.51
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.67 $2.67
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.58 $1.58
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$35.29 $35.29
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.99 $0.99
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.8K $35.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.2K $27.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$219 $219
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$58.0 $58.0
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$68.4 $68.4
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$57.9 $57.9
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.82 $14.82
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$14.13 $14.13
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$1,509 $1,509
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$21.5K $21.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$51.7 $51.7
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.05 $44.05
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.1 $85.1
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$105 $105
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,932 $1,932
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,272 $1,272
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,670 $3,670
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,525 $2,525
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,617 $7,617
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,199 $3,199
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Alegre
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,105 $5,105
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6.79
-

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

Last update for Porto Alegre: October 6, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$403
Eating Out
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$348
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$346
Clothing & Footwear
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$129
Sport & Entertainment
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$86
Getting Around
Porto Alegre
–
Austin, TX
$57

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $37.00 in Porto Alegre vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $403 per month, with Porto Alegre cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇹 Porto Alegre
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
11:57 11:57 AM
06:57 6:57 AM
5 h behind Porto Alegre
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
795
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to STN – Sao Tome and Principe Dobra Converter

Sao Tome and Principe Dobra exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 21.85 STN (100 STN = 4.58 USD). 1 EUR = 24.48 STN (100 STN = 4.08 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
  • Porto Alegre Austin, TX 11,370 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Porto Alegre
  • 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
Porto Alegre vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Porto Alegre or Austin, TX?
Porto Alegre wins on cost – living expenses run 1278% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Porto Alegre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Porto Alegre and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $294 in Porto Alegre and $4,055 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Porto Alegre compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $196 per month in Porto Alegre versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 1278% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Porto Alegre or in Austin, TX?
Supermarket bills run roughly 204% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Porto Alegre or in Austin, TX?
At $196 in Porto Alegre versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Alegre but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Alegre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Porto Alegre 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 Porto Alegre compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Porto Alegre 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 Porto Alegre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1278% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Porto Alegre vs other spots: cost of living compared

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