Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Paso Robles, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Paso Robles, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,629 in Paso Robles, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,179 in Paso Robles, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,728 in Paso Robles, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Paso Robles, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Paso Robles, CA 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$22.82 $22.82

-13.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$81.4 $81.4

-7.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.11 $10.11

-1.88%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.39 $5.39

5.19%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.44 $2.44

13.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.53 $1.53

41.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$7.13 $7.13

-18.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.15 $6.15

26.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.41 $1.41

-22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.18 $2.18

56.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.15 $2.15

59.53%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.93 $3.93

11.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$15.63 $15.63

-23.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$5.62 $5.62

91.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$12.25 $12.25

16.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.99 $2.99

61.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.69 $0.69

124.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.22 $2.22

100.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.22 $2.22

76.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.07 $1.07

156.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.09 $1.09

151.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.51 $2.51

-18.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.53 $1.53

47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$14.08 $14.08

-36.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.70 $14.70

1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.81 $2.81

27.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$5.54 $5.54

-73.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$68.6 $68.6

-37.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.81 $5.81

-26.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.96 $1.96

-6.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$50.7 $50.7

-29.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.30 $1.30

-44.62%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.3K $35.3K

-27.09%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$31.9K $31.9K

-17.93%

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

$174 $174

$310 $310

-44.00%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$46.85 $46.85

28.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$66.2 $66.2

0.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$52.0 $52.0

20.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.01 $12.01

26.89%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,319 $1,319

5.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

-4.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$51.0 $51.0

11.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$34.27 $34.27

32.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$81.4 $81.4

6.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$110 $110

8.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,092 $2,092

7.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,292 $1,292

10.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$3,493 $3,493

8.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,801 $2,801

-5.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$6,444 $6,444

9.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$6,294 $6,294

-49.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,012 $3,012

69.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.63

-2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Paso Robles, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,092 in Paso Robles, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 70% 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 $81.0 in Paso Robles, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $290, with Paso Robles, 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 Paso Robles, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paso Robles, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Paso Robles, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 70% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $2,092 in Paso Robles, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,629 in Paso Robles, CA – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Paso Robles, CA runs roughly 59% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Paso Robles, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Paso Robles, 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 Paso Robles, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.