Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,669 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,898 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,127 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$17.73 $17.73

12.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$79.1 $79.1

-3.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.09 $12.09

-16.21%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.05 $5.05

8.71%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.65 $2.65

2.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.04 $2.04

4.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.07 $7.07

-14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.88 $6.88

16.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.17 $1.17

-6.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.19 $4.19

-20.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.10 $4.10

-16.59%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.73 $3.73

15.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.61 $10.61

11.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.18 $14.18

-24.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$14.70 $14.70

-1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.55 $4.55

5.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.67 $1.67

-10.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.00 $4.00

12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.68 $5.68

-28.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.32 $3.32

-16.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.82 $2.82

-1.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.38 $1.38

47.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.10 $2.10

2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$11.16 $11.16

-17.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.16 $15.16

-2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.93 $1.93

18.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.40 $3.40

3.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$6.69 $6.69

-35.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.03 $2.03

-10.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.28 $29.28

21.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.25 $1.25

-38.40%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$23.6K $23.6K

8.62%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.96%

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

$172 $172

$289 $289

-40.46%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.83 $45.83

31.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$57.4 $57.4

17.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.93 $42.93

46.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$13.98 $13.98

5.36%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,505 $1,505

-7.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

-7.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$47.43 $47.43

16.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.38 $34.38

32.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$86.4 $86.4

0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$83.8 $83.8

37.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,582 $1,582

41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,345 $1,345

4.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,618 $2,618

44.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,257 $2,257

19.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,685 $2,685

171.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,372 $2,372

40.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$9,900 $9,900

-50.40%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,582 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA pays 102% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $79 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $402 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 Rancho Palos Verdes, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rancho Palos Verdes, 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA earns 102% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,582 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,505 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $76.0 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. Rancho Palos Verdes, 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, 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.