Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palm Desert, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palm Desert, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 3.1% cheaper than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 5.7% more expensive than Palm Desert, CA without rent, and 6.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$17.92 $17.92

9.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$81.3 $81.3

-6.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.7 $11.7

-14.96%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.1 $5.1

10.00%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.65 $3.65

-27.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.2 $2.2

-0.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$7.13 $7.13

-18.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.04 $8.04

-1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.17 $1.17

-3.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$4.13 $4.13

-20.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$4.61 $4.61

-24.08%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$3.9 $3.9

12.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$11.15 $11.15

7.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$15.92 $15.92

-32.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.21 $15.21

-3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.49 $4.49

8.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.55 $1.55

-1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.87 $4.87

-6.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$5.68 $5.68

-30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.23 $3.23

-15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.97 $2.97

-7.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.05 $2.05

-1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.19 $2.19

-0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$11.21 $11.21

-20.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$13.31 $13.31

12.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.94 $1.94

20.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.52 $3.52

-2.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.98 $1.98

-25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$6.5 $6.5

-33.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.07 $2.07

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$28.83 $28.83

20.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.09 $1.09

-33.03%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

0.64%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$28.4K $28.4K

-7.41%

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

$177 $177

$158 $158

11.90%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$54.1 $54.1

8.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$58 $58

11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$42.99 $42.99

45.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$13.05 $13.05

12.80%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,514 $1,514

-8.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$23.7K $23.7K

-5.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$46.95 $46.95

19.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$29.73 $29.73

56.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$60.6 $60.6

43.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$60.8 $60.8

95.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,512 $2,512

-12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$2,028 $2,028

-31.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$3,145 $3,145

23.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$2,960 $2,960

-9.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$3,175 $3,175

39.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,404 $2,404

31.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$5,157 $5,157

-5.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.64

-2.86%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Palm Desert, CA: October 27, 2025

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