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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,467 in Merced, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,652 in Merced, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,836 in Merced, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Merced, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Merced, CA 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$20.30 $20.30

-2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$40.25 $40.25

88.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.63 $11.63

-15.22%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.95 $5.95

-7.90%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.05 $3.05

-13.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.03 $2.03

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$8.80 $8.80

-30.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$10.14 $10.14

-19.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.17 $1.17

-5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.83 $2.83

19.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.22 $3.22

4.97%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.96 $4.96

-11.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$11.10 $11.10

9.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$15.17 $15.17

-28.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$17.78 $17.78

-17.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.96 $5.96

-16.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.47 $2.47

-38.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.48 $1.48

197.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.47 $4.47

-8.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.11 $2.11

33.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.36 $3.36

-14.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.98 $0.98

98.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.90 $2.90

-24.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$10.20 $10.20

-11.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.46 $15.46

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.28 $2.28

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.41 $3.41

0.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.52 $1.52

1.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$60.2 $60.2

-26.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.08 $3.08

43.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.71 $1.71

7.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$26.86 $26.86

29.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.23 $1.23

-36.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-11.74%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.0K $27.0K

-4.17%

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

$175 $175

$274 $274

-36.35%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$34.81 $34.81

71.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$66.9 $66.9

-2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$33.45 $33.45

83.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$13.79 $13.79

-28.28%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$15.68 $15.68

-5.87%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,979 $1,979

-30.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

-14.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$53.1 $53.1

6.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$44.10 $44.10

2.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$89.1 $89.1

-4.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$139 $139

-15.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,652 $1,652

33.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,067 $1,067

31.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,011 $2,011

89.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,878 $1,878

42.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,861 $2,861

149.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,942 $2,942

4.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,302 $3,302

54.77%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,652 in Merced, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $40.00 in Merced, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $409, 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 Merced, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Merced, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Merced, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 55% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,652 in Merced, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,467 in Merced, CA – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Merced, CA runs roughly 36% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Merced, 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 Merced, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.