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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,571 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,684 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,797 in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than in Mammoth Lakes, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Mammoth Lakes, CA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$13.16 $13.16

50.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$48.46 $48.46

73.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.18 $11.18

10.02%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.07 $5.07

8.09%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.06 $3.06

21.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.04 $2.04

15.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.89 $4.89

58.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.17 $6.17

48.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.07 $1.07

5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.77 $2.77

35.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.47 $4.47

-23.27%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.55 $5.55

-21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.79 $10.79

21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.21 $9.21

56.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$16.16 $16.16

6.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.98 $4.98

-9.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.18 $2.18

-33.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.28 $4.28

9.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.59 $3.59

38.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$6.21 $6.21

-51.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.76 $2.76

-2.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.39 $2.39

-22.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.75 $2.75

-20.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$12.07 $12.07

-21.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$18.07 $18.07

-16.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.20 $2.20

31.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$6.51 $6.51

-46.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.94 $1.94

-15.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.14 $4.14

-32.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.60 $1.60

-1.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$27.54 $27.54

27.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.44 $1.44

-37.50%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.5K $37.5K

-4.29%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-7.06%

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

$222 $222

$241 $241

-7.72%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$52.3 $52.3

11.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$77.2 $77.2

-10.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$42.95 $42.95

54.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$17.28 $17.28

-20.25%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,188 $1,188

28.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$12.9K $12.9K

64.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$59.9 $59.9

-8.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$43.04 $43.04

2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$95.8 $95.8

-6.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$174 $174

-37.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,592 $1,592

21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,100 $1,100

14.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,420 $2,420

55.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,942 $1,942

33.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,093 $3,093

139.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,341 $2,341

36.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$6,604 $6,604

-23.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mammoth Lakes, CA: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,592 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mammoth Lakes, CA pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $48.00 in Mammoth Lakes, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $405 per month, with Mammoth Lakes, CA 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 Mammoth Lakes, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mammoth Lakes, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 5% 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 30% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,592 in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,188 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 $48.00 versus $84.0 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 5% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.