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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,676 in Ontario, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $4,234 in Ontario, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $5,792 in Ontario, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than in Ontario, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Ontario, CA 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$18.01 $18.01

8.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$79.2 $79.2

-4.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$11.80 $11.80

-16.19%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.09 $5.09

7.86%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.81 $2.81

-4.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.05 $2.05

3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.80 $6.80

-13.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.97 $6.97

12.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.06 $1.06

8.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.13 $4.13

-19.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.21 $4.21

-17.34%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.11 $4.11

7.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$10.79 $10.79

9.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$8.85 $8.85

20.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$14.25 $14.25

3.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.40 $3.40

40.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.03 $4.03

8.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$5.72 $5.72

-29.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.15 $3.15

-13.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.93 $2.93

-3.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.40 $1.40

45.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.13 $2.13

5.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$10.88 $10.88

-19.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$16.27 $16.27

-7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.01 $2.01

13.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.43 $3.43

1.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.97 $1.97

-22.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$6.65 $6.65

-35.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$4.47 $4.47

-59.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$28.71 $28.71

22.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.27 $1.27

-42.52%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

2.70%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$28.7K $28.7K

-7.82%

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

$172 $172

$253 $253

-31.85%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$46.87 $46.87

24.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$59.2 $59.2

11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$100.0 $100.0

-36.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.14 $14.14

6.44%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,223 $1,223

14.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

-5.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$47.57 $47.57

18.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$33.33 $33.33

39.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$84.0 $84.0

2.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$83.7 $83.7

42.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,908 $1,908

16.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,357 $1,357

3.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,854 $2,854

33.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,911 $2,911

-9.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$4,042 $4,042

79.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$3,696 $3,696

-15.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$3,544 $3,544

41.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ontario, CA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,908 in Ontario, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Ontario, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $372, with Ontario, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ontario, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ontario, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ontario, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 41% 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 $1,908 in Ontario, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,223 in Ontario, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ontario, CA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ontario, CA 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.

Expats usually find Ontario, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.