Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John, New Brunswick and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Saint John, New Brunswick: $1,934 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint John, New Brunswick
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,934
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,934 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Saint John, New Brunswick $1,934
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,885 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Saint John, New Brunswick $2,885
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,836 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Saint John, New Brunswick $3,836
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Saint John, New Brunswick costs roughly 27% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John, New Brunswick 43% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31 CA$25.89
$20.77 $20.77
-11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0 CA$83.5
$84.6 $84.6
-30.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.43 CA$14.75
$12.32 $12.32
-15.34%
Cappuccino
$3.00 CA$4.25
$5.63 $5.63
-46.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.39
$3.72 $3.72
-54.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 CA$1.50
$2.50 $2.50
-57.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 CA$6.26
$8.05 $8.05
-44.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 CA$7.08
$9.01 $9.01
-44.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 CA$3.07
$1.12 $1.12
93.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 CA$3.77
$3.75 $3.75
-28.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 CA$4.41
$3.26 $3.26
-4.29%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.88
$4.17 $4.17
-17.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 CA$18.61
$12.90 $12.90
2.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.72 CA$16.56
$14.16 $14.16
-17.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 CA$18.06
$16.22 $16.22
-21.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 CA$6.77
$4.33 $4.33
10.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 CA$2.08
$1.46 $1.46
0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 CA$5.91
$4.51 $4.51
-7.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.51
$4.34 $4.34
-10.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 CA$2.83
$2.58 $2.58
-22.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 CA$3.11
$2.35 $2.35
-6.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.49
$1.78 $1.78
38.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 CA$1.99
$2.22 $2.22
-36.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.92 CA$19.67
$9.88 $9.88
40.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.90 CA$13.99
$15.08 $15.08
-34.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.53
$2.92 $2.92
-38.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.00
$3.46 $3.46
-38.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 CA$2.92
$1.49 $1.49
38.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.0 CA$79.2
$41.72 $41.72
34.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 CA$4.13
$2.73 $2.73
6.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 CA$1.50
$1.66 $1.66
-36.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.34 CA$24.52
$35.30 $35.30
-50.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.76
$0.95 $0.95
31.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K CA$34.4K
$36.0K $36.0K
-32.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K CA$26.6K
$27.1K $27.1K
-30.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$169
$229 $229
-47.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.55 CA$58.7
$59.4 $59.4
-30.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 CA$91.4
$69.9 $69.9
-7.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 CA$73.9
$57.2 $57.2
-8.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.03 CA$49.52
$16.33 $16.33
114.51%
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 CA$18.07
$14.28 $14.28
-10.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$378 CA$534
$1,506 $1,506
-74.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K CA$15.7K
$21.5K $21.5K
-48.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.34 CA$68.3
$52.8 $52.8
-8.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.16 CA$49.71
$43.82 $43.82
-19.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 CA$145
$84.8 $84.8
21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 CA$150
$103 $103
2.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$990 CA$1,400
$1,907 $1,907
-48.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$819 CA$1,158
$1,274 $1,274
-35.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,610 CA$2,277
$3,664 $3,664
-56.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 CA$1,843
$2,538 $2,538
-48.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,018 CA$2,854
$7,614 $7,614
-73.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,093 CA$2,959
$3,157 $3,157
-33.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint John, New Brunswick
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,402 CA$3,396
$5,121 $5,121
-53.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.69
6.79
-30.93%

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

Last update for Saint John, New Brunswick: October 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint John, New Brunswick
$819
Austin, TX
$1.3K 55.6% $455
Groceries & Markets
Saint John, New Brunswick
$350
Austin, TX
$405 15.5% $54
Eating Out
Saint John, New Brunswick
$257
Austin, TX
$354 37.7% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John, New Brunswick
$226
Austin, TX
$358 58.7% $133
Clothing & Footwear
Saint John, New Brunswick
$131
Austin, TX
$128 2.7% $3.5
Sport & Entertainment
Saint John, New Brunswick
$78
Austin, TX
$86 10.2% $7.9
Getting Around
Saint John, New Brunswick
$73
Austin, TX
$59 19.1% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $990 in Saint John, New Brunswick and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 113% 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: $59.0 in Saint John, New Brunswick vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $405 per month, with Saint John, New Brunswick cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Saint John, New Brunswick
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
17:27 5:27 PM
15:27 3:27 PM
2 h behind Saint John, New Brunswick
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,063
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint John, New Brunswick Austin, TX 3,220 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Saint John, New Brunswick
  • 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
Saint John, New Brunswick vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint John, New Brunswick or Austin, TX?
Saint John, New Brunswick wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saint John, New Brunswick the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Saint John, New Brunswick or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 113% 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 Saint John, New Brunswick compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $990 in Saint John, New Brunswick 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 Saint John, New Brunswick compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,934 per month in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Saint John, New Brunswick compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Saint John, New Brunswick runs roughly 34% 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 $2,000/month in Saint John, New Brunswick or in Austin, TX?
At $1,934 in Saint John, New Brunswick versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint John, New Brunswick but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Saint John, New Brunswick the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Saint John, New Brunswick 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Saint John, New Brunswick gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Saint John, New Brunswick vs other spots: cost of living compared

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