πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,823 in South Portland, ME versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,103 in South Portland, ME versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,382 in South Portland, ME versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.
πLiving in South Portland, ME is roughly 4% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: South Portland, ME111% above, Austin, TX103% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81$19.81
$19.99$19.99
-0.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3$69.3
$76.2$76.2
-9.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.81$11.81
$10.13$10.13
16.58%
Cappuccino
$4.88$4.88
$5.49$5.49
-11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79$2.79
$2.72$2.72
2.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32$2.32
$2.14$2.14
8.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.87$5.87
$6.07$6.07
-3.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87$6.87
$8.04$8.04
-14.55%
π Groceries & Markets
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.09$1.09
-15.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44$3.44
$3.34$3.34
2.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.64$5.64
$3.42$3.42
64.91%
Eggs
$3.97$3.97
$4.32$4.32
-8.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.54$16.54
$11.80$11.80
40.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.52$10.52
$10.68$10.68
-1.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.33$16.33
$14.50$14.50
12.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44$3.44
$4.79$4.79
-28.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45$1.45
$1.50$1.50
-3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$4.51$4.51
-10.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.64$7.64
$4.04$4.04
89.11%
Potato(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$2.76$2.76
17.39%
Onion(1kg)
$3.01$3.01
$2.79$2.79
7.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86$1.86
$2.04$2.04
-8.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64$1.64
$2.15$2.15
-23.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.32$12.32
$9.23$9.23
33.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.06$15.06
$14.81$14.81
1.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$2.29$2.29
-22.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97$2.97
$3.53$3.53
-15.86%
π Getting Around
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$1.52$1.52
30.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.64$43.64
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.03$2.03
$4.29$4.29
-52.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.70$1.70
$1.82$1.82
-6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.88$28.88
$35.52$35.52
-18.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$0.77$0.77
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K$27.4K
$25.6K$25.6K
7.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$26.3K$26.3K
-5.34%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208$208
$172$172
20.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.4$55.4
$60.3$60.3
-8.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1$67.1
$67.2$67.2
-0.24%
π Sport & Entertainment
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.12$43.12
$62.8$62.8
-31.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.01$30.01
$9.85$9.85
204.67%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21$15.21
$14.73$14.73
3.26%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394$394
$1,398$1,398
-71.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K$14.7K
$21.8K$21.8K
-32.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.03$48.03
$55.1$55.1
-12.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.45$33.45
$45.66$45.66
-26.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6$85.6
$86.8$86.8
-1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134$134
$115$115
15.73%
π Accommodation & Living
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,981$1,981
$2,245$2,245
-11.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,551$1,551
$1,401$1,401
10.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,289$3,289
$3,782$3,782
-13.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,608$2,608
$2,708$2,708
-3.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,678$2,678
$7,304$7,304
-63.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,406$2,406
$3,331$3,331
-27.77%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
South Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,201$4,201
$4,910$4,910
-14.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.71
6.45
4.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for South Portland, ME: April 20, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,981 in South Portland, ME and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Austin, TX pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $69 in South Portland, ME vs $76 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $402 vs $375, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.
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
South Portland, ME vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, South Portland, ME or Austin, TX?
Austin, TX wins on cost β living expenses run 4% lower than in South Portland, ME. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in South Portland, ME or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 17% less. 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 South Portland, ME vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,981 in South Portland, ME versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in South Portland, ME and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $394 in South Portland, ME versus $1,398 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in South Portland, ME vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX β a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $69.0 in South Portland, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in South Portland, ME or Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: South Portland, ME or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is South Portland, ME compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, South Portland, ME 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet β expenses run 4% less than in South Portland, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
South Portland, ME vs other spots: cost of living compared