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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,659 in Garden Grove, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,890 in Garden Grove, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,120 in Garden Grove, CA.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Garden Grove, CA; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Garden Grove, CA 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$19.75 $19.75

-0.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$85.6 $85.6

-12.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.97 $9.97

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.11 $5.11

10.96%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.70 $2.70

2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.05 $2.05

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.82 $6.82

-14.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.83 $6.83

13.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.12 $1.12

-2.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.08 $4.08

-16.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.84 $4.84

-29.13%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.37 $4.37

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.67 $10.67

12.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.74 $8.74

23.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.30 $14.30

-0.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.53 $3.53

37.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.85 $1.85

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.80 $3.80

17.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.35 $5.35

-26.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.17 $3.17

-13.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.96 $2.96

-7.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.39 $1.39

46.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.03 $2.03

10.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.65 $9.65

-7.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.84 $14.84

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.58 $4.58

-22.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$69.8 $69.8

-38.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.92 $3.92

9.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.80 $2.80

-34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$31.95 $31.95

11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.26 $1.26

-42.86%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

8.30%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.02%

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

$174 $174

$203 $203

-14.47%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$47.39 $47.39

27.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$72.9 $72.9

-9.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.80 $42.80

46.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.91 $13.91

9.56%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,188 $1,188

16.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$40.4K $40.4K

-45.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$56.6 $56.6

0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$34.89 $34.89

29.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$76.6 $76.6

12.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$83.5 $83.5

42.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,605 $1,605

40.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,334 $1,334

7.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,653 $2,653

42.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,245 $2,245

17.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,719 $4,719

8.24%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Garden Grove, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,605 in Garden Grove, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 8% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $86.0 in Garden Grove, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $371, with Garden Grove, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Austin, TX pays 8% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,605 in Garden Grove, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,188 in Garden Grove, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $86.0 in Garden Grove, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Garden Grove, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.