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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 10.8% cheaper than Merced, CA without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 21% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 14.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$20.02 $20.02

-1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$40.51 $40.51

88.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.54 $11.54

-13.78%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.66 $5.66

-0.88%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.97 $2.97

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.04 $2.04

7.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$9.09 $9.09

-35.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$10.08 $10.08

-21.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.23 $1.23

-8.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$2.7 $2.7

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$3.19 $3.19

9.72%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$5.04 $5.04

-12.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$11.06 $11.06

8.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$15.24 $15.24

-29.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$17.42 $17.42

-15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.68 $5.68

-14.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.53 $2.53

-39.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$1.47 $1.47

208.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.28 $4.28

-8.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.07 $2.07

31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.26 $3.26

-15.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.02 $1.02

97.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.79 $2.79

-21.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$10.18 $10.18

-12.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$18.56 $18.56

-19.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.26 $2.26

3.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.27 $3.27

5.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.52 $1.52

-2.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$59.3 $59.3

-27.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.04 $3.04

41.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.72 $1.72

5.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$26.68 $26.68

29.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.26 $1.26

-42.06%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$30K $30K

-15.21%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.47%

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

$177 $177

$278 $278

-36.52%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$35.23 $35.23

67.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$67 $67

-3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$33.04 $33.04

89.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$13.83 $13.83

-26.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$15.63 $15.63

-5.82%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,959 $1,959

-29.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

-14.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$53.8 $53.8

4.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$44.27 $44.27

4.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$89.3 $89.3

-2.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$137 $137

-13.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$1,593 $1,593

37.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$1,099 $1,099

26.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$1,963 $1,963

98.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$1,917 $1,917

40.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,947 $2,947

49.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,902 $2,902

8.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$3,525 $3,525

38.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.36

1.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

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