Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Belmont, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Belmont, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,685 in Belmont, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,834 in Belmont, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,983 in Belmont, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Belmont, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Belmont, CA 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$20.34 $20.34

-1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$65.6 $65.6

16.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.78 $10.78

-6.03%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.88 $5.88

-6.63%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.23 $2.23

21.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.39 $2.39

-10.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.14 $6.14

-1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.86 $7.86

2.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.35 $1.35

-19.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.59 $3.59

-6.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.32 $3.32

3.01%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.55 $3.55

21.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.80 $10.80

9.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$10.93 $10.93

-2.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.58 $14.58

-0.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.94 $3.94

21.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.26 $2.26

-33.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.35 $2.35

91.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.23 $2.23

81.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.38 $2.38

15.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.02 $3.02

-7.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.44 $2.44

-16.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.99 $0.99

117.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$11.16 $11.16

-17.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$11.77 $11.77

25.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.09 $2.09

9.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.43 $2.43

45.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.05 $2.05

-25.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$64.7 $64.7

-32.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.53 $3.53

21.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.87 $1.87

-2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$30.51 $30.51

16.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.29 $1.29

-40.31%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.5K $26.5K

-3.21%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.9K $26.9K

-2.00%

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

$172 $172

$280 $280

-38.58%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$48.15 $48.15

25.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$67.9 $67.9

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.56 $42.56

47.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$15.60 $15.60

-5.58%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,982 $1,982

-29.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

-16.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$53.3 $53.3

3.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.84 $34.84

31.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$87.5 $87.5

-0.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$137 $137

-15.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,290 $2,290

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,355 $1,355

3.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,680 $2,680

41.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,213 $2,213

22.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,508 $2,508

191.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,321 $2,321

43.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$9,159 $9,159

-46.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.32

2.06%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Belmont, CA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $2,290 in Belmont, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Belmont, CA pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $66 in Belmont, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $335 per month, with Belmont, CA cheaper across the board.

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

Austin, TX vs Belmont, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Belmont, CA 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 Belmont, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Belmont, CA earns 87% less. 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $2,290 in Belmont, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,685 in Belmont, CA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Belmont, CA runs roughly 48% 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. Belmont, CA 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 Belmont, CA 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.