🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,860 in Monterey Park, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,813 in Monterey Park, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $6,765 in Monterey Park, CA.
🙂Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 7% less than in Monterey Park, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX98% above, Monterey Park, CA114% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85$19.85
$25.34$25.34
-21.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$83.6$83.6
-10.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03$10.03
$12.15$12.15
-17.45%
Cappuccino
$5.52$5.52
$5.09$5.09
8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.70$2.70
2.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$2.21$2.21
-4.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$8.12$8.12
-25.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81$7.81
$7.17$7.17
8.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$1.19$1.19
-5.04%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$3.95$3.95
-12.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$4.16$4.16
-17.79%
Eggs
$4.37$4.37
$6.87$6.87
-36.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24$12.24
$12.82$12.82
-4.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.79$10.79
$8.79$8.79
22.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.36$14.36
$14.42$14.42
-0.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.99$4.99
$3.42$3.42
45.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51$1.51
$1.94$1.94
-22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38$4.38
$4.10$4.10
6.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$4.99$4.99
-20.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$3.06$3.06
-10.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$2.43$2.43
13.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$1.84$1.84
7.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$2.20$2.20
3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.74$8.74
$11.21$11.21
-22.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81$14.81
$14.88$14.88
-0.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$2.58$2.58
-12.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58$3.58
$3.14$3.14
14.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54$1.54
$1.99$1.99
-22.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.09$43.09
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45$4.45
$3.03$3.03
46.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81$1.81
$1.70$1.70
6.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.30$35.30
$29.47$29.47
19.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$1.29$1.29
-42.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$24.1K$24.1K
5.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$24.2K$24.2K
9.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$233$233
-27.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3$60.3
$67.5$67.5
-10.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0$67.0
$70.0$70.0
-4.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.6$61.6
$43.78$43.78
40.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83$9.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.14$15.14
$13.84$13.84
9.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,381$1,381
$1,199$1,199
15.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.8K$21.8K
$24.1K$24.1K
-9.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9$56.9
$57.0$57.0
-0.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.94$45.94
$46.42$46.42
-1.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0$86.0
$100$100
-14.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$152$152
-21.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,183$2,183
$1,578$1,578
38.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,417$1,417
$1,543$1,543
-8.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,801$3,801
$2,606$2,606
45.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,711$2,711
$3,659$3,659
-25.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,204$7,204
$2,548$2,548
182.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,239$3,239
$2,642$2,642
22.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,914$4,914
$2,752$2,752
78.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.49
-0.62%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Austin, TX: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Monterey Park, CA: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,578 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $84.0 in Monterey Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $388 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Austin, TX vs Monterey Park, CA: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Monterey Park, CA?
Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Monterey Park, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or Monterey Park, CA?
Austin, TX pays 79% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX vs Monterey Park, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,578 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and Monterey Park, CA?
Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $1,199 in Monterey Park, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX vs Monterey Park, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $84.0 in Monterey Park, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or Monterey Park, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Monterey Park, CA?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Monterey Park, CA?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Monterey Park, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Monterey Park, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Austin, TX vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado