Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taif and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Taif: $1,239 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taif
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,239
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,239 in Taif versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Taif $1,239
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,827 in Taif versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Taif $1,827
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,416 in Taif versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Taif $2,416
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Taif costs roughly 53% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Taif is 8% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28 SAR 19.82
$20.77 $20.77
-74.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.38 SAR 140
$84.6 $84.6
-55.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.31 SAR 27.41
$12.32 $12.32
-40.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 SAR 7.80
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 SAR 5.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.23 SAR 8.37
$5.63 $5.63
-60.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 SAR 2.64
$3.72 $3.72
-81.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 SAR 0.64
$2.50 $2.50
-93.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$8.05 $8.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.01 $9.01
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 SAR 6.57
$1.12 $1.12
56.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$3.75 $3.75
-93.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 SAR 8.80
$3.26 $3.26
-28.22%
Eggs
$2.74 SAR 10.26
$4.17 $4.17
-34.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.97 SAR 22.40
$12.90 $12.90
-53.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.11 SAR 26.68
$14.16 $14.16
-49.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 SAR 35.50
$16.22 $16.22
-41.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 SAR 8.94
$4.33 $4.33
-45.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
$1.46 $1.46
17.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 SAR 6.90
$4.51 $4.51
-59.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 SAR 6.86
$4.34 $4.34
-57.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 SAR 4.92
$2.58 $2.58
-49.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 SAR 5.33
$2.35 $2.35
-39.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 SAR 3.54
$1.78 $1.78
-47.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 SAR 3.07
$2.22 $2.22
-63.06%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.20 SAR 11.99
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 SAR 5.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 SAR 7.50
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.36 SAR 27.63
$9.88 $9.88
-25.51%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$15.08 $15.08
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.92 $2.92
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.46 $3.46
-
🚌 Getting Around
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 SAR 4.03
$1.49 $1.49
-28.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.19 SAR 136
$41.72 $41.72
-13.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 SAR 4.86
$2.73 $2.73
-52.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 SAR 7.68
$1.66 $1.66
23.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.42 SAR 35.34
$35.30 $35.30
-73.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.26
$0.95 $0.95
-36.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.6K SAR 167.3K
$36.0K $36.0K
23.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SAR 78.1K
$27.1K $27.1K
-23.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 SAR 519
$229 $229
-39.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.04 SAR 105
$59.4 $59.4
-52.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4 SAR 253
$69.9 $69.9
-3.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$145 SAR 543
$57.2 $57.2
152.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.23 SAR 49.64
$16.33 $16.33
-18.98%
Cinema Ticket
$19.68 SAR 73.9
$14.28 $14.28
37.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$185 SAR 693
$1,506 $1,506
-87.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,342 SAR 12.5K
$21.5K $21.5K
-84.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.10 SAR 158
$52.8 $52.8
-20.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 SAR 208
$43.82 $43.82
26.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 SAR 358
$84.8 $84.8
12.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 SAR 324
$103 $103
-16.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 SAR 2,187
$1,907 $1,907
-69.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 SAR 1,380
$1,274 $1,274
-71.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 SAR 3,012
$3,664 $3,664
-78.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 SAR 2,124
$2,538 $2,538
-77.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,395 SAR 8,986
$7,614 $7,614
-68.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,368 SAR 5,132
$3,157 $3,157
-56.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taif
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,567 SAR 5,880
$5,121 $5,121
-69.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
6.79
-18.41%

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

Last update for Taif: 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
Taif
$368
Austin, TX
$1.3K 246% $906
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taif
$234
Austin, TX
$358 53.4% $125
Sport & Entertainment
Taif
$184
Austin, TX
$86 53.4% $98
Groceries & Markets
Taif
$181
Austin, TX
$405 123% $223
Clothing & Footwear
Taif
$126
Austin, TX
$128 1.8% $2.3
Eating Out
Taif
$94
Austin, TX
$354 275% $259
Getting Around
Taif
$52
Austin, TX
$59 12.8% $6.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $583 in Taif and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 227% 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: $37.00 in Taif vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $405 per month, with Taif cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Taif
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
04:24 4:24 AM
20:24 8:24 PM
8 h behind Taif
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
579,970
974,447
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 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
  • Taif Austin, TX 12,750 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taif
  • 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
Taif vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Taif or Austin, TX?
Taif wins on cost – living expenses run 115% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Taif or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 227% 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 Taif compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $583 in Taif 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 Taif compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,239 per month in Taif versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Taif compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Taif runs roughly 15% 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 Taif or in Austin, TX?
At $1,239 in Taif versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taif but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Taif the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Taif 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.
How safe is Taif compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Taif 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 Taif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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