Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mission Viejo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mission Viejo, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,581 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,089 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,596 in Mission Viejo, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 5% more expensive than Mission Viejo, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Mission Viejo, CA 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.34 $19.34

3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$58.6 $58.6

30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.86 $10.86

-6.72%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.11 $5.11

7.44%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.58 $2.58

5.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.96 $1.96

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.89 $5.89

3.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.14 $7.14

12.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.60 $3.60

-7.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.31 $4.31

-20.65%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.07 $4.07

6.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$12.07 $12.07

-2.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.38 $11.38

-6.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.40 $15.40

-5.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.89 $4.89

-2.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.57 $1.57

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.28 $4.28

5.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.68 $4.68

-13.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.91 $2.91

-5.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.90 $2.90

-3.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.12 $2.12

-3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.13 $2.13

0.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$9.36 $9.36

-1.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.21 $15.21

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.76 $1.76

30.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.44 $3.44

2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.58 $3.58

19.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.61 $1.61

13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.40 $29.40

20.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.38 $1.38

-44.20%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.3K $29.3K

-12.67%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.35%

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

$172 $172

$190 $190

-9.41%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$53.4 $53.4

12.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$68.9 $68.9

-2.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.60 $43.60

44.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.40 $13.40

9.93%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,322 $1,322

5.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

-7.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$52.1 $52.1

5.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$40.53 $40.53

12.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$88.1 $88.1

-1.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$114 $114

1.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,702 $2,702

-16.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,356 $1,356

3.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,630 $2,630

43.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$3,002 $3,002

-9.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,692 $2,692

171.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,391 $2,391

39.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,719 $5,719

-14.14%

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 Mission Viejo, CA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $2,702 in Mission Viejo, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mission Viejo, CA pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $59 in Mission Viejo, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $388, 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 Mission Viejo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mission Viejo, 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 Mission Viejo, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Mission Viejo, CA earns 16% 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 $2,702 in Mission Viejo, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,322 in Mission Viejo, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mission Viejo, CA – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Mission Viejo, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Mission Viejo, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mission Viejo, 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.