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

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 9.8% more expensive than Monterey, CA without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 7.1% cheaper than Monterey, CA without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$16.22 $16.22

21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$64.9 $64.9

17.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.45 $9.45

5.29%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.48 $4.48

25.22%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.16 $3.16

-16.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.63 $1.63

34.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.86 $5.86

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$4.44 $4.44

78.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.34 $1.34

-15.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.41 $3.41

-3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$4.37 $4.37

-19.91%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$4 $4

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$9.38 $9.38

27.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$17.66 $17.66

-39.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.04 $14.04

4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.85 $3.85

26.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.15 $1.15

32.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$2.46 $2.46

84.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.23 $2.23

75.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.92 $1.92

41.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.23 $2.23

23.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.83 $1.83

9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.94 $1.94

12.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$12.16 $12.16

-27.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$17.28 $17.28

-13.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.2 $2.2

6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.44 $2.44

40.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.04 $2.04

-27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$53 $53

-19.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$1.58 $1.58

172.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.89 $0.89

104.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$28.75 $28.75

20.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.22 $1.22

-40.16%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

5.17%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.72%

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

$177 $177

$188 $188

-5.90%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$51.7 $51.7

13.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$61.8 $61.8

4.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$43.27 $43.27

44.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.52 $10.52

-3.33%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$12.3 $12.3

19.67%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$570 $570

141.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$12.5K $12.5K

78.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$68.4 $68.4

-17.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$119 $119

-60.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$98.5 $98.5

-11.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$202 $202

-41.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,323 $2,323

-5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$2,004 $2,004

-30.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$3,623 $3,623

7.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$3,664 $3,664

-26.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$7,809 $7,809

-43.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$5,920 $5,920

-46.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$4,380 $4,380

11.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.4

0.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

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