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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 7.3% more expensive than Riverside, CA without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Austin, TX is 3.2% cheaper than Riverside, CA without rent, and 1.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$20.25 $20.25
-3.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$83.9 $83.9
-9.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.77 $11.77
-15.46%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$4.95 $4.95
13.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.68 $2.68
-1.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.96 $1.96
11.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.91 $6.91
-15.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$7.2 $7.2
10.00%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.07 $1.07
5.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4 $4
-17.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.03 $4.03
-13.15%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$6.99 $6.99
-37.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$10.84 $10.84
10.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$8.97 $8.97
19.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$14.39 $14.39
2.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.46 $3.46
41.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.95 $1.95
-22.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.02 $4.02
12.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.6 $5.6
-30.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$4.39 $4.39
-38.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.27 $3.27
-15.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.41 $1.41
42.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.19 $2.19
-0.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$10.83 $10.83
-18.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$9.15 $9.15
63.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.6 $2.6
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$5.8 $5.8
-40.69%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.72 $1.72
-13.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$59.6 $59.6
-28.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$10.05 $10.05
-57.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$4.41 $4.41
-58.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$29.5 $29.5
17.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.23 $1.23
-40.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.9K $23.9K
6.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.5K $24.5K
7.39%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$286 $286
-38.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$47.35 $47.35
24.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$59.5 $59.5
8.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$35.04 $35.04
78.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$20.02 $20.02
-49.20%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.07 $14.07
4.62%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,215 $1,215
13.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$23.1K $23.1K
-3.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$56.3 $56.3
-0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$34.87 $34.87
33.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$85.6 $85.6
1.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$85.3 $85.3
39.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,086 $2,086
4.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$1,671 $1,671
-16.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$3,239 $3,239
20.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,485 $2,485
8.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$3,995 $3,995
10.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$4,071 $4,071
-22.36%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Riverside, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$3,751 $3,751
29.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.58
-1.98%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Riverside, CA: October 28, 2025

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