Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Centro, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and El Centro, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 5% cheaper than El Centro, CA without rent, and 10.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 13.2% more expensive than El Centro, CA without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$11.85 $11.85

68.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.5 $73.5

$39.50 $39.50

86.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$14.77 $14.77

-31.82%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.96 $3.96

41.16%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.97 $1.97

41.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.94 $1.94

9.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.99 $5.99

$2.92 $2.92

105.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.88 $6.88

19.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.12 $1.12

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.08 $4.08

-18.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.66 $4.66

-25.32%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.87 $3.87

14.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.30 $12.30

-3.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.51 $10.51

$16.40 $16.40

-35.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$15.22 $15.22

-5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.41 $4.41

13.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.75 $1.75

-15.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$5.08 $5.08

-9.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$5.52 $5.52

-28.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.25 $3.25

-14.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.87 $2.87

-4.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.10 $2.10

-2.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.12 $2.12

5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 $9.21

$11.09 $11.09

-16.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.20 $15.20

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.01 $2.01

14.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.49 $3.49

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.60 $43.60

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.76 $6.76

-34.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.81 $2.81

-37.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$29.46 $29.46

16.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.29 $1.29

-43.41%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.00%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$28.3K $28.3K

-5.44%

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

$173 $173

$156 $156

11.05%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$53.1 $53.1

11.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58.7 $58.7

11.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$43.55 $43.55

45.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 $10.19

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$15.24 $15.24

-0.85%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$1,489 $1,489

-6.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

-8.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 $57.0

$48.41 $48.41

17.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.95 $44.95

$34.00 $34.00

32.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$102 $102

-15.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$103 $103

14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$1,583 $1,583

37.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,394 $1,394

$1,348 $1,348

3.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,632 $2,632

48.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,660 $2,660

$2,205 $2,205

20.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,832 $6,832

$2,686 $2,686

154.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,100 $3,100

$2,549 $2,549

21.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,879 $4,879

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.64

-2.86%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: January 12, 2026

Last update for El Centro, CA: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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