Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Los Gatos, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,796 in Los Gatos, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $4,151 in Los Gatos, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $5,507 in Los Gatos, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Los Gatos, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$30.37 $30.37

-36.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$111 $111

-33.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$13.80 $13.80

-26.16%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$4.92 $4.92

16.06%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.91 $2.91

-8.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.21 $2.21

-0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$9.14 $9.14

-35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.10 $8.10

-0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.42 $1.42

-23.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.96 $4.96

-31.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.06 $3.06

9.15%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.54 $5.54

-19.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$13.15 $13.15

-9.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$15.10 $15.10

-28.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$17.00 $17.00

-16.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$7.87 $7.87

-38.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.18 $2.18

-29.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.54 $4.54

0.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.04 $5.04

-21.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.96 $2.96

-3.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.34 $3.34

-16.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.13 $2.13

-8.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.64 $2.64

-15.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$10.77 $10.77

-15.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.78 $12.78

16.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.78 $1.78

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.05 $4.05

-16.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.02 $2.02

-26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.59 $3.59

20.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.84 $1.84

-3.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$29.52 $29.52

16.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.23 $1.23

-39.02%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

4.26%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.58%

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

$176 $176

$214 $214

-17.93%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$39.69 $39.69

50.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.0 $62.0

7.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$42.40 $42.40

47.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.21 $14.21

5.84%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,132 $1,132

22.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$24.4K $24.4K

-8.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$55.6 $55.6

1.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$40.15 $40.15

16.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$92.5 $92.5

-6.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$81.4 $81.4

46.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,591 $1,591

36.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,365 $1,365

5.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,612 $2,612

43.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,178 $2,178

23.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$3,485 $3,485

101.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.67

-3.30%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,591 in Los Gatos, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $111 in Los Gatos, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $458 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 Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $4,078 in Austin, TX and $4,194 in Los Gatos, 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,591 in Los Gatos, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,132 in Los Gatos, 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 $111 in Los Gatos, 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 Los Gatos, 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 3% less than in Los Gatos, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.