Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, Laguna and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz, Laguna: $626 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

31

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz, Laguna
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Santa Cruz, Laguna Living Index
130

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

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Santa Cruz, Laguna

🇵🇭 Philippines

$626

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $626
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $931 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $931
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,236 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Santa Cruz, Laguna $1,236
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Santa Cruz, Laguna costs roughly 76% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Cruz, Laguna is 54% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 ₱99.0

$20.77 $20.77

-92.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.09 ₱509

$84.6 $84.6

-90.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₱174

$12.32 $12.32

-77.60%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₱112

$5.63 $5.63

-68.38%

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

$0.38 ₱23.98

$3.72 $3.72

-89.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₱14.42

$2.50 $2.50

-90.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₱62.2

$8.05 $8.05

-87.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.1

$9.01 $9.01

-89.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ₱103

$1.12 $1.12

45.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ₱72.9

$3.75 $3.75

-69.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₱63.3

$3.26 $3.26

-69.33%

Eggs

$1.55 ₱97.5

$4.17 $4.17

-62.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.65 ₱293

$12.90 $12.90

-63.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 ₱220

$14.16 $14.16

-75.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 ₱445

$16.22 $16.22

-56.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 ₱92.1

$4.33 $4.33

-66.28%

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 ₱28.85

$1.46 $1.46

-68.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ₱91.0

$4.51 $4.51

-68.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₱64.2

$4.34 $4.34

-76.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 ₱111

$2.58 $2.58

-31.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 ₱109

$2.35 $2.35

-25.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ₱41.99

$1.78 $1.78

-62.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.46

$2.22 $2.22

-76.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱182

$9.88 $9.88

-70.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.60 ₱541

$15.08 $15.08

-42.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱61.0

$2.92 $2.92

-66.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₱131

$3.46 $3.46

-39.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₱13.40

$1.49 $1.49

-85.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.41 ₱718

$41.72 $41.72

-72.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$2.73 $2.73

-70.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.36

$1.66 $1.66

-86.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₱121

$35.30 $35.30

-94.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ₱78.7

$0.95 $0.95

31.58%

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

$21.2K ₱1.3M

$36.0K $36.0K

-41.20%

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

$19.2K ₱1.2M

$27.1K $27.1K

-28.90%

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

$85.1 ₱5,359

$229 $229

-62.83%

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

$17.58 ₱1,107

$59.4 $59.4

-70.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.61 ₱1,487

$69.9 $69.9

-66.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.48 ₱1,982

$57.2 $57.2

-45.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.14 ₱261

$16.33 $16.33

-74.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₱323

$14.28 $14.28

-64.08%

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

$134 ₱8,442

$1,506 $1,506

-91.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ₱675.9K

$21.5K $21.5K

-49.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.89 ₱1,819

$52.8 $52.8

-45.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.72 ₱1,242

$43.82 $43.82

-55.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 ₱4,565

$84.8 $84.8

-14.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 ₱3,515

$103 $103

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 ₱15.2K

$1,907 $1,907

-87.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₱9,895

$1,274 $1,274

-87.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₱29.9K

$3,664 $3,664

-87.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₱19.0K

$2,538 $2,538

-88.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,296 ₱144.5K

$7,614 $7,614

-69.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$886 ₱55.8K

$3,157 $3,157

-71.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.79

-0.59%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, Laguna: 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

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$157 25.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 711% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$156 24.9%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 160% $249

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$126 20.2%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 184% $232

Clothing & Footwear

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$80 12.7%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 60.7% $48

Eating Out

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$52 8.2%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 586% $302

Sport & Entertainment

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$42 6.7%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 106% $44

Getting Around

Santa Cruz, Laguna

$14 2.3%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 313% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $8.00 in Santa Cruz, Laguna vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $405 per month, with Santa Cruz, Laguna cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Santa Cruz, Laguna

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

08:26 8:26 AM

19:26 7:26 PM

13 h behind Santa Cruz, Laguna

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

123,574

974,447

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

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

USD to PHP in detail →

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Between locations

Santa Cruz, Laguna Austin, TX 13,530 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight

From you

Santa Cruz, Laguna
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

Santa Cruz, Laguna vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz, Laguna wins on cost – living expenses run 325% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz, Laguna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $940 in Santa Cruz, Laguna and $3,995 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Santa Cruz, Laguna 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 $626 per month in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 325% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Cruz, Laguna runs roughly 266% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $626 in Santa Cruz, Laguna versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz, Laguna but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz, Laguna 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.

Expats usually find Santa Cruz, Laguna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 325% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.