Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palo Alto, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Palo Alto, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 31.6% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 44.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 32.2% cheaper than Palo Alto, CA without rent, and 43.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$24.92 $24.92
-21.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$111 $111
-31.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.34 $11.34
-12.26%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.74 $5.74
-2.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.24 $3.24
-18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.54 $2.54
-13.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$8.14 $8.14
-28.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$10.03 $10.03
-21.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.47 $1.47
-23.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.99 $4.99
-33.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$3.19 $3.19
9.72%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$6.16 $6.16
-28.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$21.55 $21.55
-44.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$14.78 $14.78
-27.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$22.82 $22.82
-35.45%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.95 $6.95
-29.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.56 $2.56
-40.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.84 $4.84
-6.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$6.75 $6.75
-41.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.89 $3.89
-30.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.37 $4.37
-36.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.9 $2.9
-30.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.86 $2.86
-23.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$11.11 $11.11
-20.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$18.33 $18.33
-18.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.27 $2.27
3.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.35 $3.35
2.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.55 $2.55
-41.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$89.6 $89.6
-52.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$4.11 $4.11
4.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.89 $1.89
-3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$30.51 $30.51
13.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.27 $1.27
-42.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$29.7K $29.7K
-14.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.6K $26.6K
-1.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$225 $225
-21.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$47.97 $47.97
22.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$68.6 $68.6
-5.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$120 $120
-48.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$19.88 $19.88
-48.84%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$15.78 $15.78
-6.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$2,710 $2,710
-49.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$45.7K $45.7K
-50.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$53.2 $53.2
5.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$44.76 $44.76
3.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$89.3 $89.3
-2.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$135 $135
-12.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$3,473 $3,473
-37.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$3,227 $3,227
-56.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$5,889 $5,889
-33.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$5,757 $5,757
-53.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$2,539 $2,539
73.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$2,123 $2,123
48.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$10K $10K
-51.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.51
-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.