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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,771 in Lompoc, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,904 in Lompoc, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $5,038 in Lompoc, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 1% less than in Lompoc, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Lompoc, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$17.71 $17.71

9.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$81.5 $81.5

-8.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.89 $14.89

-33.38%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.16 $5.16

8.72%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.46 $3.46

-23.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.24 $2.24

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$7.28 $7.28

-18.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.20 $8.20

-3.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.99 $0.99

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.74 $2.74

25.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.70 $4.70

-29.15%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$3.75 $3.75

16.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$12.27 $12.27

-0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$16.31 $16.31

-35.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$15.68 $15.68

-6.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.39 $4.39

8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.67 $1.67

-9.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.10 $5.10

-9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.52 $5.52

-26.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.26 $3.26

-15.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.92 $2.92

-3.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.01 $1.01

93.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.15 $2.15

4.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$10.79 $10.79

-15.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$18.17 $18.17

-18.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.94 $1.94

19.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.42 $3.42

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$6.53 $6.53

-34.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.68 $2.68

-32.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$29.27 $29.27

18.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.19 $1.19

-33.61%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.59%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$29.2K $29.2K

-9.86%

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

$174 $174

$155 $155

12.03%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$54.4 $54.4

7.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$58.8 $58.8

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$42.69 $42.69

44.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.95 $14.95

2.27%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,522 $1,522

-9.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$23.9K $23.9K

-8.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$46.85 $46.85

21.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$34.21 $34.21

35.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$102 $102

-14.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$103 $103

13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,858 $1,858

19.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,583 $1,583

-8.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,132 $2,132

77.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,168 $2,168

20.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$8,079 $8,079

-38.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.2

4.03%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 13, 2026

Last update for Lompoc, CA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,858 in Lompoc, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lompoc, CA pays 62% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Lompoc, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $415 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 Lompoc, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Lompoc, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Lompoc, 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,858 in Lompoc, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,379 in Austin, TX versus $1,522 in Lompoc, 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 $74.0 versus $81.0 in Lompoc, 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 Lompoc, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Lompoc, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.