Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mammoth Lakes, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mammoth Lakes, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,660 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,775 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,891 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than in Mammoth Lakes, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Mammoth Lakes, CA 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$12.92 $12.92

54.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$47.41 $47.41

57.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$11.07 $11.07

-11.02%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.03 $5.03

15.11%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.69 $2.69

2.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.98 $1.98

9.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.89 $4.89

22.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.02 $6.02

34.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.84 $2.84

15.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.71 $4.71

-28.45%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.72 $4.72

-8.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.34 $10.34

16.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.36 $8.36

26.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$16.96 $16.96

-13.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.40 $4.40

14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.08 $2.08

-24.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.53 $3.53

24.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.37 $3.37

20.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.92 $2.92

-5.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.06 $2.06

36.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.92 $1.92

2.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.38 $3.38

-34.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$10.92 $10.92

-19.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$18.33 $18.33

-19.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.68 $1.68

39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$5.34 $5.34

-35.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.02 $2.02

-24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.35 $3.35

28.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.48 $2.48

-27.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$25.27 $25.27

39.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.28 $1.28

-37.50%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$36.5K $36.5K

-29.40%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

-8.92%

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

$173 $173

$309 $309

-43.83%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$50.3 $50.3

16.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$84.5 $84.5

-20.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.53 $42.53

45.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.58 $14.58

1.51%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$991 $991

42.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$12.8K $12.8K

73.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$56.9 $56.9

-3.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$46.45 $46.45

0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$72.5 $72.5

20.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$162 $162

-26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,610 $1,610

36.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,356 $1,356

5.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,637 $2,637

42.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,211 $2,211

22.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,553 $2,553

187.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,744 $2,744

14.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$6,720 $6,720

-24.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mammoth Lakes, CA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,610 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mammoth Lakes, CA pays 32% 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 $47.00 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $381, with Austin, TX 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 Mammoth Lakes, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mammoth Lakes, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mammoth Lakes, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Mammoth Lakes, 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 $1,610 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $991 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mammoth Lakes, CA – a meal for two runs $47.00 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 $2,000. Mammoth Lakes, 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 Mammoth Lakes, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.