Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Garden Grove, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,455 in Garden Grove, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,370 in Garden Grove, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,285 in Garden Grove, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 85% more expensive than in Garden Grove, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Garden Grove, CA 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$25.07 $25.07

-20.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$99.1 $99.1

-15.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.59 $11.59

6.13%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.81 $5.81

-5.68%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.83 $2.83

31.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.98 $1.98

19.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.77 $7.77

-0.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.73 $8.73

4.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.16 $1.16

-2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.50 $4.50

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.25 $4.25

-19.29%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.10 $5.10

-14.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.36 $12.36

6.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.88 $14.88

-3.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.80 $13.80

24.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.48 $5.48

-18.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.77 $1.77

-18.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.26 $4.26

9.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.62 $6.62

-24.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.61 $3.61

-16.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.57 $3.57

-24.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.39 $2.39

-22.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.21 $2.21

-1.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$11.63 $11.63

-18.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.89 $14.89

1.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.76 $1.76

64.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.22 $3.22

8.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$5.01 $5.01

-67.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$68.5 $68.5

-40.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.96 $2.96

-5.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.90 $1.90

-16.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$35.56 $35.56

-1.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.47 $1.47

-38.78%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.69%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

6.24%

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

$222 $222

$217 $217

2.12%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$71.4 $71.4

-18.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.7 $69.7

-0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$14.86 $14.86

345.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$20.19 $20.19

-26.89%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.07 $14.07

-2.06%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,425 $1,425

7.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$37.0K $37.0K

-42.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$74.7 $74.7

-26.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$40.07 $40.07

9.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$79.3 $79.3

13.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$133 $133

-18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$2,222 $2,222

-12.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$3,432 $3,432

9.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$4,590 $4,590

10.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Garden Grove, CA: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $2,222 in Garden Grove, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 11% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $99.0 in Garden Grove, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $434 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Garden Grove, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Garden Grove, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Garden Grove, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $2,222 in Garden Grove, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,455 in Garden Grove, CA – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Garden Grove, CA runs roughly 69% 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. Garden Grove, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Garden Grove, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Garden Grove, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.