Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hermosa Beach, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hermosa Beach, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,621 in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,916 in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,210 in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Hermosa Beach, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Hermosa Beach, CA 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$22.13 $22.13

-9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$101 $101

-26.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.96 $11.96

-17.64%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.83 $5.83

-0.69%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.02 $2.02

7.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$8.63 $8.63

-30.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.45 $8.45

-4.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.91 $3.91

-16.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.17 $4.17

-19.18%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$7.06 $7.06

-38.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.77 $10.77

11.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.58 $8.58

23.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.53 $14.53

0.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.47 $3.47

45.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.87 $1.87

-16.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.99 $3.99

9.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.69 $4.69

-13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.98 $2.98

-7.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.53 $2.53

11.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.46 $1.46

34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.11 $2.11

5.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$11.12 $11.12

-21.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.85 $14.85

-0.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.60 $2.60

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.14 $3.14

10.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.17 $3.17

35.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.64 $1.64

9.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$28.81 $28.81

22.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.24 $1.24

-35.48%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

8.52%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.2K $24.2K

10.74%

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

$173 $173

$187 $187

-7.44%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$45.77 $45.77

27.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.5 $69.5

-3.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.65 $42.65

44.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$15.22 $15.22

-35.28%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$16.22 $16.22

-8.75%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,659 $1,659

-14.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$12.5K $12.5K

76.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$56.9 $56.9

-3.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$35.33 $35.33

32.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$84.7 $84.7

3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$86.5 $86.5

37.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,622 $1,622

35.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,354 $1,354

5.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,638 $2,638

42.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,257 $2,257

19.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,332 $2,332

214.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,691 $2,691

16.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$7,046 $7,046

-27.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Hermosa Beach, CA: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,622 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hermosa Beach, CA pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Hermosa Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $376 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 Hermosa Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hermosa Beach, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hermosa Beach, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Hermosa Beach, CA. 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,622 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,659 in Hermosa Beach, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Hermosa Beach, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Hermosa Beach, 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 Hermosa Beach, 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 Hermosa Beach, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.