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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,721 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,818 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,915 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Mammoth Lakes, CA; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$12.91 $12.91

54.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$47.99 $47.99

58.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.93 $10.93

-7.32%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.05 $5.05

8.71%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.78 $2.78

-2.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.05 $2.05

4.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.94 $4.94

22.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.83 $5.83

37.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.98 $0.98

11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.81 $2.81

18.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.70 $4.70

-27.23%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.69 $4.69

-7.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.05 $10.05

17.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.31 $8.31

28.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.69 $16.69

-13.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.23 $4.23

13.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.10 $2.10

-28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.64 $3.64

23.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.25 $3.25

24.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.97 $2.97

-7.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.05 $2.05

36.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.95 $1.95

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$3.28 $3.28

-34.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$10.93 $10.93

-15.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$17.92 $17.92

-17.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.69 $1.69

35.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$5.37 $5.37

-34.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.47 $3.47

23.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.53 $2.53

-28.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$24.66 $24.66

44.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.23 $1.23

-37.40%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$37.4K $37.4K

-31.40%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

-12.47%

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

$172 $172

$300 $300

-42.65%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$50.8 $50.8

18.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$83.5 $83.5

-19.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.58 $43.58

44.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.38 $14.38

2.43%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$981 $981

42.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$13.1K $13.1K

66.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$55.7 $55.7

-1.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$46.64 $46.64

-2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$75.4 $75.4

15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$166 $166

-30.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,624 $1,624

38.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,367 $1,367

2.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,587 $2,587

46.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,240 $2,240

20.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,666 $2,666

173.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,336 $2,336

42.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$6,556 $6,556

-25.10%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Mammoth Lakes, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,624 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mammoth Lakes, CA pays 34% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $48 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $377, 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

On paper, Mammoth Lakes, CA earns 34% less. 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,624 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Mammoth Lakes, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $48.00 in Mammoth Lakes, 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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Mammoth Lakes, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.