Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Williams Lake, BC and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Williams Lake, BC: $2,019 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

98

Cost of Living Index in Williams Lake, BC
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Williams Lake, BC Living Index
129

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

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Williams Lake, BC

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,019

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,019 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Williams Lake, BC $2,019
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,916 in Williams Lake, BC versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Williams Lake, BC $2,916
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,814 in Williams Lake, BC versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Williams Lake, BC $3,814
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Williams Lake, BC costs roughly 25% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Williams Lake, BC 49% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.93 CA$25.35

$20.63 $20.63

-13.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.2 CA$92.1

$84.6 $84.6

-22.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 CA$14.76

$12.07 $12.07

-13.50%

Cappuccino

$3.67 CA$5.20

$5.48 $5.48

-33.03%

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

$2.05 CA$2.90

$3.80 $3.80

-46.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 CA$2.35

$2.47 $2.47

-32.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.59 CA$6.48

$8.05 $8.05

-42.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 CA$7.84

$8.88 $8.88

-37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.36 CA$3.34

$1.11 $1.11

112.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.50 CA$3.54

$3.72 $3.72

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.24 CA$4.58

$3.37 $3.37

-3.86%

Eggs

$3.44 CA$4.87

$4.32 $4.32

-20.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 CA$14.52

$13.13 $13.13

-21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 CA$16.07

$14.15 $14.15

-19.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.27 CA$21.59

$16.33 $16.33

-6.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 CA$5.37

$4.55 $4.55

-16.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 CA$1.82

$1.46 $1.46

-11.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 CA$5.11

$4.71 $4.71

-23.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.85 CA$5.44

$4.15 $4.15

-7.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 CA$3.49

$2.58 $2.58

-4.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 CA$3.21

$2.35 $2.35

-3.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.32

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 CA$2.02

$2.14 $2.14

-33.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.95 CA$19.72

$10.10 $10.10

38.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 CA$17.65

$15.19 $15.19

-17.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 CA$3.79

$2.82 $2.82

-4.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CA$4.96

$3.44 $3.44

2.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 CA$3.29

$1.54 $1.54

51.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.3 CA$86.7

$40.99 $40.99

49.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 CA$4.70

$2.80 $2.80

18.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 CA$2.18

$1.60 $1.60

-3.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.03 CA$32.56

$34.34 $34.34

-32.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 CA$1.72

$0.94 $0.94

29.79%

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

$26.7K CA$37.8K

$34.0K $34.0K

-21.37%

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

$21.0K CA$29.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-21.59%

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

$135 CA$190

$223 $223

-39.55%

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

$32.15 CA$45.44

$58.9 $58.9

-45.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.4 CA$118

$70.6 $70.6

18.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.37 CA$58.5

$57.7 $57.7

-28.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.29 CA$27.28

$16.53 $16.53

16.70%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 CA$15.24

$14.26 $14.26

-24.40%

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

$614 CA$868

$1,511 $1,511

-59.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K CA$20.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

-30.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 CA$74.8

$51.3 $51.3

3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.15 CA$55.3

$44.17 $44.17

-11.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 CA$136

$87.0 $87.0

10.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 CA$132

$104 $104

-10.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 CA$1,322

$1,940 $1,940

-51.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$876 CA$1,239

$1,316 $1,316

-33.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 CA$1,895

$3,664 $3,664

-63.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 CA$1,777

$2,565 $2,565

-51.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,904 CA$5,520

$7,354 $7,354

-46.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,349 CA$4,734

$3,129 $3,129

7.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,103 CA$4,387

$5,286 $5,286

-41.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.67

6.79

-31.22%

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

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: October 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Williams Lake, BC

$876 43.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 50.2% $440

Groceries & Markets

Williams Lake, BC

$353 17.5%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 14.9% $53

Eating Out

Williams Lake, BC

$268 13.3%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 30.7% $82

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Williams Lake, BC

$250 12.4%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 40.8% $102

Clothing & Footwear

Williams Lake, BC

$127 6.3%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 1.8% $2.3

Getting Around

Williams Lake, BC

$82 4.1%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 29.1% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Williams Lake, BC

$63 3.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 37% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Williams Lake, BC and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 70% 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: $65.0 in Williams Lake, BC vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $406 per month, with Williams Lake, BC cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Williams Lake, BC

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

15:01 3:01 PM

17:01 5:01 PM

2 h ahead of Williams Lake, BC

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

10,753

974,447

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Williams Lake, BC Austin, TX 3,140 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Williams Lake, 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

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

Williams Lake, BC wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Williams Lake, BC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 70% 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: $935 in Williams Lake, BC versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,019 per month in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Williams Lake, BC runs roughly 50% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,019 in Williams Lake, BC versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Williams Lake, BC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Williams Lake, BC 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 Williams Lake, BC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.