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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,717 in Modesto, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $4,143 in Modesto, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,569 in Modesto, CA.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and Modesto, CA; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$15.23 $15.23

29.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$81.2 $81.2

-6.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$8.80 $8.80

12.05%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.44 $5.44

0.74%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.69 $2.69

-1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.60 $1.60

30.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.93 $4.93

23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$6.85 $6.85

18.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.09 $1.09

0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.54 $3.54

-4.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.30 $3.30

2.42%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.94 $4.94

-11.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.11 $13.11

-7.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$14.98 $14.98

-27.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$19.67 $19.67

-25.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.27 $6.27

-20.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.52 $2.52

-40.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.99 $4.99

-11.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$6.60 $6.60

-37.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.43 $3.43

-18.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.51 $4.51

-36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.00 $3.00

-35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.83 $2.83

-22.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$10.05 $10.05

-10.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.85 $14.85

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.84 $1.84

26.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.44 $3.44

-0.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.04 $2.04

-24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$39.25 $39.25

12.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.48 $3.48

26.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.99 $1.99

-8.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$30.18 $30.18

14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.21 $1.21

-35.54%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

-5.24%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.12%

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

$175 $175

$292 $292

-40.25%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$48.30 $48.30

23.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$63.3 $63.3

3.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$41.81 $41.81

46.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$14.89 $14.89

-33.58%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$10.96 $10.96

34.67%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,983 $1,983

-30.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

-13.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$49.27 $49.27

14.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.13 $39.13

15.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$86.7 $86.7

-1.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$129 $129

-8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,424 $1,424

54.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,271 $1,271

10.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,455 $2,455

55.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,447 $2,447

9.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$3,279 $3,279

117.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$3,172 $3,172

-2.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$4,119 $4,119

24.07%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Modesto, CA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,424 in Modesto, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 24% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Modesto, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $463 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Modesto, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Average pay runs 24% 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 $1,424 in Modesto, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,983 in Modesto, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $81.0 in Modesto, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,717 in Modesto, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Modesto, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Modesto, CA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.