Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Squamish, BC and Austin, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Squamish, BC and in Austin, TX: $2,634 and $2,663 a month, rent and utilities included.

127

Cost of Living Index in Squamish, BC
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Squamish, BC Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
Learn more

Austin, TX Living Index

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Squamish, BC

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,634

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,634 in Squamish, BC versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Squamish, BC $2,634
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Squamish, BC versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Squamish, BC $3,904
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,175 in Squamish, BC versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Squamish, BC $5,175
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Squamish, BC costs roughly 1% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Squamish, BC 95% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 CA$23.02

$20.77 $20.77

-22.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.77 CA$69.3

$84.6 $84.6

-42.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 CA$14.23

$12.32 $12.32

-18.75%

Cappuccino

$3.94 CA$5.60

$5.63 $5.63

-30.02%

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

$1.79 CA$2.54

$3.72 $3.72

-51.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 CA$2.09

$2.50 $2.50

-41.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.57 CA$7.92

$8.05 $8.05

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.63 CA$8.00

$9.01 $9.01

-37.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 CA$2.50

$1.12 $1.12

57.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 CA$2.99

$3.75 $3.75

-44.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.46 CA$4.92

$3.26 $3.26

6.13%

Eggs

$3.08 CA$4.39

$4.17 $4.17

-26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 CA$17.60

$12.90 $12.90

-4.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.93 CA$21.23

$14.16 $14.16

5.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.16 CA$27.24

$16.22 $16.22

18.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 CA$7.55

$4.33 $4.33

22.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 CA$1.65

$1.46 $1.46

-20.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.90 CA$6.97

$4.51 $4.51

8.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 CA$4.93

$4.34 $4.34

-20.05%

Potato (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.91

$2.58 $2.58

61.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.51

$2.35 $2.35

5.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 CA$3.49

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 CA$2.65

$2.22 $2.22

-16.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.86 CA$21.12

$9.88 $9.88

50.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.58 CA$15.04

$15.08 $15.08

-29.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 CA$4.03

$2.92 $2.92

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 CA$5.01

$3.46 $3.46

1.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 CA$2.03

$1.49 $1.49

-4.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.87 CA$42.46

$41.72 $41.72

-28.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 CA$5.12

$2.73 $2.73

31.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 CA$1.96

$1.66 $1.66

-16.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.89 CA$35.38

$35.30 $35.30

-29.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.61

$0.95 $0.95

18.95%

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

$26.2K CA$37.2K

$36.0K $36.0K

-27.44%

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

$18.6K CA$26.4K

$27.1K $27.1K

-31.33%

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

$116 CA$166

$229 $229

-49.14%

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

$42.93 CA$61.0

$59.4 $59.4

-27.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.6 CA$89.0

$69.9 $69.9

-10.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 CA$72.6

$57.2 $57.2

-10.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

Cinema Ticket

$11.42 CA$16.24

$14.28 $14.28

-20.03%

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

$1,084 CA$1,541

$1,506 $1,506

-28.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,273 CA$11.8K

$21.5K $21.5K

-61.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 CA$73.2

$52.8 $52.8

-2.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.42 CA$57.5

$43.82 $43.82

-7.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 CA$113

$84.8 $84.8

-6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.9 CA$135

$103 $103

-7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,565 CA$2,225

$1,907 $1,907

-17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,517 CA$2,157

$1,274 $1,274

19.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,188 CA$4,532

$3,664 $3,664

-13.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,719 CA$3,865

$2,538 $2,538

7.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,931 CA$8,433

$7,614 $7,614

-22.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,077 CA$4,376

$5,121 $5,121

-39.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.72

6.79

-30.49%

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

Last update for Squamish, BC: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Squamish, BC

$1.5K 57.6%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 16% $243

Groceries & Markets

Squamish, BC

$396 15.1%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 2.1% $8.2

Eating Out

Squamish, BC

$259 9.8%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 36.6% $95

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Squamish, BC

$222 8.4%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 61.4% $136

Clothing & Footwear

Squamish, BC

$120 4.5%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 6.9% $8.3

Sport & Entertainment

Squamish, BC

$74 2.8%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 16.1% $12

Getting Around

Squamish, BC

$46 1.8%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 27.4% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,565 in Squamish, BC and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 66% 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: $49.00 in Squamish, BC vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $405 per month, with Squamish, BC cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Squamish, BC

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

17:36 5:36 PM

19:36 7:36 PM

2 h ahead of Squamish, BC

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

19,512

974,447

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.703 USD

1 CAD = 0.628 EUR

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

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

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Squamish, BC Austin, TX 3,030 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Squamish, BC
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

Squamish, BC vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Squamish, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Squamish, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 66% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,565 in Squamish, BC 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 $2,634 per month in Squamish, BC versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Squamish, BC runs roughly 40% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Squamish, BC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Squamish, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.