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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 10.3% cheaper than Salinas, CA without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 9.1% cheaper than Salinas, CA without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$29.69 $29.69

-33.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$89.1 $89.1

-14.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$12.04 $12.04

-17.36%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.9 $4.9

14.49%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.66 $2.66

-0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.14 $2.14

2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$7.86 $7.86

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.84 $7.84

1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.46 $1.46

-22.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.55 $3.55

-7.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$6.36 $6.36

-44.97%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$5.55 $5.55

-20.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$21 $21

-42.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.16 $13.16

-18.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$16.74 $16.74

-12.01%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$6 $6

-18.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.16 $2.16

-29.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.57 $3.57

26.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$6.06 $6.06

-35.31%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$4.47 $4.47

-39.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.39 $3.39

-18.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.17 $2.17

-7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.87 $1.87

16.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$11.09 $11.09

-20.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$10.18 $10.18

46.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.68 $1.68

39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$5.34 $5.34

-35.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.95 $1.95

-24.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$68.8 $68.8

-37.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.45 $3.45

24.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.88 $1.88

-3.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$40.24 $40.24

-13.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.31 $1.31

-44.27%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.2K $24.2K

5.37%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

0.05%

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

$177 $177

$277 $277

-36.36%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$53.1 $53.1

10.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$72.6 $72.6

-10.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$39.6 $39.6

58.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$14.31 $14.31

2.87%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,968 $1,968

-29.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$38.3K $38.3K

-41.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$56.1 $56.1

0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$37.8 $37.8

22.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$92.3 $92.3

-6.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$126 $126

-5.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,200 $2,200

-0.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$2,164 $2,164

-35.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$4,186 $4,186

-6.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$3,806 $3,806

-29.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,778 $2,778

58.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,415 $2,415

30.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$4,905 $4,905

-0.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.41

0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

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