Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mountain View, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mountain View, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $4,598 in Mountain View, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $6,493 in Mountain View, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $8,387 in Mountain View, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 41% less than in Mountain View, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Mountain View, CA 236% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$20.17 $20.17

-2.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$102 $102

-17.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.03 $12.03

2.24%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.20 $5.20

4.81%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.80 $2.80

29.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.65 $2.65

-9.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$6.80 $6.80

16.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$10.20 $10.20

-12.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.27 $1.27

-15.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.42 $4.42

-16.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.72 $4.72

-29.24%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$5.48 $5.48

-21.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$16.71 $16.71

-22.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$11.86 $11.86

20.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$13.30 $13.30

25.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.46 $5.46

-17.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.72 $1.72

-17.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.51 $4.51

1.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.47 $5.47

-14.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.91 $3.91

-30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$5.67 $5.67

-54.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.91 $1.91

-1.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.72 $2.72

-19.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$11.51 $11.51

-12.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.06 $13.06

15.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.07 $2.07

41.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.45 $2.45

34.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$5.09 $5.09

-69.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.03 $4.03

-33.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$5.05 $5.05

-67.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.41 $1.41

-36.88%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.2K $37.2K

-2.04%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

4.29%

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

$223 $223

$295 $295

-24.50%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$44.81 $44.81

28.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$63.2 $63.2

8.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$73.1 $73.1

-10.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$12.04 $12.04

21.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$16.96 $16.96

-17.75%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$2,323 $2,323

-34.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

-10.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$52.5 $52.5

1.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$100 $100

-57.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$152 $152

-43.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$149 $149

-31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$2,917 $2,917

-33.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$2,987 $2,987

-57.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$5,572 $5,572

-32.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$5,106 $5,106

-50.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$10.4K $10.4K

-30.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$10.1K $10.1K

-69.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$9,549 $9,549

-48.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.1

6.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mountain View, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $2,917 in Mountain View, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mountain View, CA pays 93% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $102 in Mountain View, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $435 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 Mountain View, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Mountain View, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Mountain View, CA. 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $2,917 in Mountain View, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,523 in Austin, TX versus $2,323 in Mountain View, 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 $85.0 versus $102 in Mountain View, 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,715 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Mountain View, 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 69% less than in Mountain View, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.