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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $3,255 in Oxnard, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,270 in Oxnard, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,285 in Oxnard, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 17% less than in Oxnard, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Oxnard, CA 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.34 $20.34

-2.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$65.2 $65.2

28.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.70 $12.70

-3.15%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.81 $5.81

-5.68%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.09 $3.09

20.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.34 $2.34

0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$8.03 $8.03

-3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$10.07 $10.07

-9.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.35 $1.35

-16.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.64 $5.64

-33.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.91 $4.91

-30.14%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.64 $5.64

-22.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.23 $12.23

7.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.47 $13.47

6.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$20.53 $20.53

-16.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.29 $4.29

4.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.86 $1.86

-22.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.54 $4.54

2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.06 $5.06

-1.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.24 $3.24

-7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.92 $1.92

40.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.10 $2.10

-11.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.20 $2.20

-0.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.17 $10.17

-7.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$16.43 $16.43

-8.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.75 $1.75

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.13 $3.13

11.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.53 $1.53

7.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.03 $3.03

-7.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.11 $2.11

-25.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$28.31 $28.31

24.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.21 $1.21

-25.62%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.1K $37.1K

-3.23%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

5.64%

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

$222 $222

$128 $128

73.16%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$52.9 $52.9

10.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$70.5 $70.5

-2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$60.9 $60.9

8.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.41 $15.41

-10.58%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,209 $1,209

26.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$36.7K $36.7K

-42.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$37.63 $37.63

44.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$56.6 $56.6

-22.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$60.4 $60.4

48.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$81.3 $81.3

33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$2,047 $2,047

-5.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,977 $1,977

-36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$3,294 $3,294

14.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,436 $2,436

6.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$5,901 $5,901

25.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$5,830 $5,830

-45.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,404 $3,404

49.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.1

5.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Oxnard, CA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $2,047 in Oxnard, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $65.0 in Oxnard, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $450, with Austin, TX 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 Oxnard, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Oxnard, 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 49% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $2,047 in Oxnard, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,209 in Oxnard, 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 $84.0 versus $65.0 in Oxnard, 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Oxnard, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.