Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Highland, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Highland, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,482 in Highland, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,707 in Highland, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,932 in Highland, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than Highland, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Highland, CA 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$18.23 $18.23

9.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.4 $79.4

-4.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.77 $11.77

-13.93%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.06 $5.06

8.50%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.79 $2.79

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.99 $1.99

7.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.08 $7.08

-14.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.82 $6.82

17.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.11 $1.11

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.99 $3.99

-16.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.13 $4.13

-17.19%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.88 $3.88

11.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.68 $10.68

10.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.69 $8.69

22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.73 $14.73

-1.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.48 $3.48

37.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.67 $1.67

-10.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.01 $4.01

12.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.60 $5.60

-27.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.27 $3.27

-15.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.84 $2.84

-1.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.40 $1.40

45.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.16 $2.16

-0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$11.08 $11.08

-16.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.77 $15.77

-6.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.98 $1.98

15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.02 $2.02

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$29.88 $29.88

46.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.69 $6.69

-35.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.66 $1.66

9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.34 $29.34

21.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.25 $1.25

-38.40%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$24.1K $24.1K

6.28%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.35%

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

$172 $172

$155 $155

11.06%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$46.97 $46.97

28.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$60.8 $60.8

10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.89 $42.89

46.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.16 $14.16

4.03%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,220 $1,220

14.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

-7.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.16 $47.16

16.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$33.55 $33.55

36.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$84.7 $84.7

2.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$85.5 $85.5

35.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,580 $1,580

42.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,353 $1,353

3.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,648 $2,648

42.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,266 $2,266

19.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,890 $2,890

152.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,478 $2,478

34.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Highland, CA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,580 in Highland, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $79 in Highland, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $370, with Highland, 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 Highland, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Highland, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Highland, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,079 in Austin, TX and $3,722 in Highland, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,580 in Highland, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,482 in Highland, CA – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Highland, CA runs roughly 46% 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 $3,000. Highland, 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.

Expats usually find Highland, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.