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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,474 in Redding, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,499 in Redding, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,525 in Redding, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than Redding, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Redding, CA 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$17.95 $17.95

9.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$59.4 $59.4

26.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.07 $12.07

-17.81%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.74 $4.74

19.62%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.34 $2.34

18.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.14 $2.14

1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.42 $5.42

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$4.92 $4.92

57.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.32 $1.32

-17.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.86 $4.86

-29.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.30 $4.30

-20.23%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.96 $3.96

10.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.52 $12.52

-4.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$15.06 $15.06

-28.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.60 $16.60

-13.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.97 $5.97

-18.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.64 $1.64

-5.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.61 $3.61

23.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.63 $5.63

-30.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.51 $4.51

-39.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.42 $3.42

-19.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.11 $2.11

-3.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.69 $1.69

33.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.09 $10.09

-11.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.68 $10.68

39.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.44 $1.44

63.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.31 $3.31

7.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.53 $1.53

-3.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$49.36 $49.36

-12.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.94 $2.94

45.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.44 $2.44

-24.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$39.76 $39.76

-10.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.28 $1.28

-43.75%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.8K $23.8K

8.10%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.45%

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

$174 $174

$279 $279

-37.71%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.8 $52.8

14.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$70.4 $70.4

-5.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$56.8 $56.8

10.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$8.90 $8.90

71.24%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$2,728 $2,728

-49.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$38.4K $38.4K

-42.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$63.6 $63.6

-10.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$32.32 $32.32

40.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$80.9 $80.9

6.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$126 $126

-5.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,291 $1,291

74.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,054 $1,054

35.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,862 $1,862

102.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,606 $1,606

64.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,686 $2,686

162.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,668 $2,668

18.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,525 $3,525

44.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Redding, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,291 in Redding, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 45% 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 $59.0 in Redding, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $424, 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 Redding, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Redding, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Redding, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 45% 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 $1,291 in Redding, 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 $2,474 in Redding, CA – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Redding, CA runs roughly 15% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,474 in Redding, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Redding, CA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Redding, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Redding, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.