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: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,576 in Merced, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,679 in Merced, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,783 in Merced, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Merced, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Merced, CA 87% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$17.85 $17.85

11.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$39.71 $39.71

111.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$11.92 $11.92

2.94%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.84 $5.84

-3.60%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.44 $2.44

47.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.46 $1.46

63.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.25 $9.25

-15.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$9.82 $9.82

-7.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.19 $1.19

-4.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.57 $4.57

-20.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.04 $4.04

-18.07%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.95 $5.95

-25.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$19.85 $19.85

-34.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$14.49 $14.49

1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$22.09 $22.09

-21.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.46 $4.46

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.98 $1.98

-26.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.47 $5.47

-12.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.56 $5.56

-10.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.45 $3.45

-12.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.90 $2.90

-5.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.50 $2.50

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$11.91 $11.91

-22.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.47 $15.47

-3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.41 $2.41

19.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.29 $3.29

9.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.54 $1.54

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$59.9 $59.9

-30.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.97 $2.97

-5.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.65 $1.65

-3.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$26.81 $26.81

29.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.31 $1.31

-27.48%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$37.0K $37.0K

-3.46%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

4.19%

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

$229 $229

$237 $237

-3.28%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$30.04 $30.04

94.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$84.5 $84.5

-17.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$33.47 $33.47

96.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$14.19 $14.19

3.95%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$17.28 $17.28

-19.79%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,855 $1,855

-19.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$40.4K $40.4K

-48.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$59.2 $59.2

-9.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$51.4 $51.4

-13.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$102 $102

-10.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$121 $121

-10.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,644 $1,644

17.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,084 $1,084

16.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,011 $2,011

87.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,861 $1,861

39.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,897 $2,897

153.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,838 $2,838

13.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,331 $3,331

51.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.17

4.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,644 in Merced, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 51% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $40.00 in Merced, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $485, 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 3% 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 51% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,644 in Merced, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,576 in Merced, CA – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Merced, CA runs roughly 43% 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 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.