Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shijiazhuang and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Shijiazhuang: $678 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shijiazhuang
🇨🇳 China
$678
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Shijiazhuang versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Shijiazhuang $678
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,015 in Shijiazhuang versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Shijiazhuang $1,015
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,353 in Shijiazhuang versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Shijiazhuang $1,353
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Shijiazhuang costs roughly 75% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Shijiazhuang is 50% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 ¥11.90
$20.77 $20.77
-91.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ¥126
$84.6 $84.6
-77.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.46 ¥36.50
$12.32 $12.32
-55.68%
Cappuccino
$3.22 ¥21.51
$5.63 $5.63
-42.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.14
$3.72 $3.72
-87.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.82
$2.50 $2.50
-89.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ¥5.34
$8.05 $8.05
-90.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ¥11.35
$9.01 $9.01
-81.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ¥8.86
$1.12 $1.12
17.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 ¥7.59
$3.75 $3.75
-69.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.70 ¥4.65
$3.26 $3.26
-78.53%
Eggs
$1.23 ¥8.25
$4.17 $4.17
-70.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.09 ¥108
$12.90 $12.90
24.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ¥18.46
$14.16 $14.16
-80.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ¥63.0
$16.22 $16.22
-41.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.63 ¥10.90
$4.33 $4.33
-62.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.26
$1.46 $1.46
-15.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.18
$4.51 $4.51
-82.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.15
$4.34 $4.34
-71.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 ¥3.92
$2.58 $2.58
-77.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ¥3.89
$2.35 $2.35
-75.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ¥4.23
$1.78 $1.78
-64.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.09
$2.22 $2.22
-79.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81 ¥25.46
$9.88 $9.88
-61.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.68 ¥24.64
$15.08 $15.08
-75.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥4.84
$2.92 $2.92
-75.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥4.87
$3.46 $3.46
-78.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.10
$1.49 $1.49
-79.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.78 ¥119
$41.72 $41.72
-57.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ¥7.80
$2.73 $2.73
-57.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.34
$1.66 $1.66
-78.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ¥23.36
$35.30 $35.30
-90.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ¥8.29
$0.95 $0.95
30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥131.8K
$36.0K $36.0K
-45.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥113.9K
$27.1K $27.1K
-37.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.9 ¥628
$229 $229
-58.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.40 ¥29.45
$59.4 $59.4
-92.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.63 ¥44.35
$69.9 $69.9
-90.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.96 ¥93.4
$57.2 $57.2
-75.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76 ¥98.7
$16.33 $16.33
-9.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.52 ¥36.93
$14.28 $14.28
-61.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$377 ¥2,519
$1,506 $1,506
-74.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,226 ¥35.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-75.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.51 ¥331
$52.8 $52.8
-6.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.52 ¥177
$43.82 $43.82
-39.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 ¥505
$84.8 $84.8
-10.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.8 ¥366
$103 $103
-46.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ¥2,019
$1,907 $1,907
-84.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 ¥1,222
$1,274 $1,274
-85.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 ¥2,729
$3,664 $3,664
-88.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 ¥1,848
$2,538 $2,538
-89.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,499 ¥16.7K
$7,614 $7,614
-67.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,670 ¥11.2K
$3,157 $3,157
-47.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shijiazhuang
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$801 ¥5,357
$5,121 $5,121
-84.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.31
6.79
-51.25%

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

Last update for Shijiazhuang: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shijiazhuang
$183
Austin, TX
$1.3K 597% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Shijiazhuang
$171
Austin, TX
$405 137% $234
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shijiazhuang
$105
Austin, TX
$358 241% $253
Clothing & Footwear
Shijiazhuang
$93
Austin, TX
$128 37.9% $35
Eating Out
Shijiazhuang
$80
Austin, TX
$354 345% $274
Sport & Entertainment
Shijiazhuang
$25
Austin, TX
$86 243% $61
Getting Around
Shijiazhuang
$22
Austin, TX
$59 167% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Shijiazhuang and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 539% 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: $19.00 in Shijiazhuang vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $405 per month, with Shijiazhuang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Shijiazhuang
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
18:23 6:23 PM
05:23 5:23 AM
13 h behind Shijiazhuang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,235,086
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shijiazhuang Austin, TX 11,710 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shijiazhuang
  • 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
Shijiazhuang vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Shijiazhuang or Austin, TX?
Shijiazhuang wins on cost – living expenses run 293% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shijiazhuang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Shijiazhuang or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 539% 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 Shijiazhuang compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Shijiazhuang versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 293% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Shijiazhuang compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Shijiazhuang runs roughly 135% 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 $1,000/month in Shijiazhuang or in Austin, TX?
At $678 in Shijiazhuang versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shijiazhuang but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Shijiazhuang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Shijiazhuang 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 Shijiazhuang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 293% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Shijiazhuang vs other spots: cost of living compared

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