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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,886 in Monterey Park, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $4,760 in Monterey Park, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $6,634 in Monterey Park, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 5% less than in Monterey Park, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Monterey Park, CA 117% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$24.79 $24.79

-21.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$83.5 $83.5

-9.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$12.23 $12.23

-19.13%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.09 $5.09

7.86%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.73 $2.73

-1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.34 $2.34

-8.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$8.18 $8.18

-27.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$7.11 $7.11

10.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.22 $1.22

-5.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.04 $4.04

-17.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.23 $4.23

-17.73%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$7.22 $7.22

-38.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$12.46 $12.46

-5.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$8.98 $8.98

18.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.39 $14.39

2.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.54 $3.54

35.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.98 $1.98

-20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.10 $4.10

6.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$5.09 $5.09

-21.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.96 $2.96

-8.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.42 $2.42

17.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.91 $1.91

6.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.19 $2.19

2.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$11.04 $11.04

-20.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$15.15 $15.15

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.57 $2.57

-11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.28 $3.28

5.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.03 $2.03

-24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.14 $3.14

36.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.72 $1.72

5.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.03 $29.03

21.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.31 $1.31

-44.27%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.6K $23.6K

9.73%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$23.8K $23.8K

11.47%

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

$172 $172

$240 $240

-28.11%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$67.7 $67.7

-13.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$70.2 $70.2

-5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$43.74 $43.74

45.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$13.77 $13.77

9.30%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,191 $1,191

17.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

-7.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$57.1 $57.1

-0.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$46.97 $46.97

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$102 $102

-15.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$150 $150

-20.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,585 $1,585

40.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,543 $1,543

-9.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,586 $2,586

47.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$3,574 $3,574

-25.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,738 $2,738

164.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,527 $2,527

23.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$2,758 $2,758

81.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Monterey Park, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,585 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 82% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $83.0 in Monterey Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $393 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 Monterey Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% 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.

Average pay runs 82% 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,585 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,191 in Monterey Park, 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 $75.0 versus $83.0 in Monterey Park, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Monterey Park, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.