Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Costa Mesa, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Costa Mesa, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 3.7% cheaper than Costa Mesa, CA without rent, and 30.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 6.9% cheaper than Costa Mesa, CA without rent, and 18.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$19.92 $19.92
-1.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$79.2 $79.2
-3.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.8 $11.8
-15.68%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.32 $5.32
5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.35 $3.35
-21.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.23 $2.23
-1.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$7.04 $7.04
-17.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$7.9 $7.9
0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.12 $1.12
0.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.08 $4.08
-19.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.31 $4.31
-18.79%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.93 $4.93
-10.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$10.55 $10.55
13.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$8.47 $8.47
26.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$14.27 $14.27
3.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$4.52 $4.52
7.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.96 $1.96
-22.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.5 $4.5
0.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.48 $5.48
-28.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.37 $4.37
-37.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.85 $2.85
-3.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.08 $2.08
-3.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.12 $2.12
2.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$10.79 $10.79
-17.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$13.46 $13.46
11.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2 $2
17.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.41 $3.41
0.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.04 $2.04
-27.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$6.56 $6.56
-34.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.81 $2.81
-35.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$29.36 $29.36
17.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.25 $1.25
-41.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$24K $24K
6.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$291 $291
-39.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$52.8 $52.8
11.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$60.5 $60.5
7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$39.34 $39.34
59.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.91 $14.91
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,206 $1,206
14.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$23.9K $23.9K
-6.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$55.6 $55.6
1.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$34.5 $34.5
34.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$87.3 $87.3
-0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$102 $102
16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,804 $2,804
-21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$2,474 $2,474
-43.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$3,947 $3,947
-1.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$3,887 $3,887
-30.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$2,932 $2,932
50.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$2,360 $2,360
33.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Costa Mesa, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$6,322 $6,322
-22.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.58
-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: October 28, 2025

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