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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 11% cheaper than Irvine, CA without rent, and 28.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 10.7% cheaper than Irvine, CA without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$24.63 $24.63
-20.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$98.2 $98.2
-22.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$10.18 $10.18
-2.26%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.56 $5.56
0.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.65 $2.65
-0.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.03 $2.03
7.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$8.06 $8.06
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$8.84 $8.84
-10.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.21 $1.21
-6.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$5.73 $5.73
-42.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.82 $4.82
-27.39%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.63 $4.63
-4.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$12.53 $12.53
-4.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$11.37 $11.37
-6.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$14.3 $14.3
3.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.24 $6.24
-21.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.83 $1.83
-16.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.85 $3.85
17.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.59 $5.59
-29.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.25 $3.25
-16.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.97 $2.97
-7.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.08 $2.08
-3.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.12 $2.12
2.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$9.49 $9.49
-6.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$14.96 $14.96
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.78 $1.78
31.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$4.75 $4.75
-27.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.94 $1.94
-23.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$70.3 $70.3
-39.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$3.97 $3.97
8.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.76 $2.76
-34.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$32.09 $32.09
7.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.3 $1.3
-43.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$28.4K $28.4K
-10.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.8K $26.8K
-1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$205 $205
-13.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$54 $54
9.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$72.7 $72.7
-10.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$55 $55
13.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$13.38 $13.38
-23.99%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$13.78 $13.78
6.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,868 $1,868
-26.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$40.1K $40.1K
-44.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$69.6 $69.6
-19.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$40.54 $40.54
14.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$76.8 $76.8
12.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$155 $155
-23.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,716 $2,716
-19.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$2,333 $2,333
-40.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$4,616 $4,616
-15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$3,818 $3,818
-29.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$8,450 $8,450
-47.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$8,108 $8,108
-61.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Irvine, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$5,963 $5,963
-18.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.69
-3.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Irvine, CA: October 27, 2025

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