Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Bernardino, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,851 in San Bernardino, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,323 in San Bernardino, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,794 in San Bernardino, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 5% less than in San Bernardino, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, San Bernardino, CA 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$19.64 $19.64

0.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$63.7 $63.7

31.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$15.13 $15.13

-18.70%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.07 $6.07

-9.72%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.79 $3.79

-1.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.08 $3.08

-23.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.12 $7.12

8.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.02 $8.02

13.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.02 $1.02

10.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.13 $4.13

-9.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.72 $2.72

26.10%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.96 $4.96

-12.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$9.41 $9.41

39.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.70 $14.70

-2.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.42 $13.42

28.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.12 $3.12

43.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.86 $1.86

-22.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.21 $2.21

111.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.22 $2.22

123.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.76 $1.76

70.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.78 $1.78

51.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.31 $1.31

41.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.80 $1.80

21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$11.89 $11.89

-20.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.83 $12.83

17.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.14 $2.14

35.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.22 $4.22

-17.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.03 $2.03

-19.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$59.0 $59.0

-31.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.88 $2.88

-2.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.43 $2.43

-34.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$60.2 $60.2

-41.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.30 $1.30

-30.77%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$33.4K $33.4K

7.35%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.9K $24.9K

10.86%

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

$222 $222

$235 $235

-5.65%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$60.0 $60.0

-2.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$70.7 $70.7

-2.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$40.64 $40.64

62.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.80 $12.80

7.66%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,150 $1,150

32.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$17.4K $17.4K

21.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$86.8 $86.8

-37.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$45.17 $45.17

-2.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$81.1 $81.1

10.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$213 $213

-49.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,798 $1,798

8.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,475 $1,475

-14.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,566 $2,566

46.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,751 $2,751

-5.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$3,575 $3,575

107.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$3,662 $3,662

-12.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,394 $3,394

49.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.24

3.21%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for San Bernardino, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,798 in San Bernardino, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $64.0 in San Bernardino, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $351 per month, with San Bernardino, CA 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 San Bernardino, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in San Bernardino, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,798 in San Bernardino, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,851 in San Bernardino, CA – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 46% less than in San Bernardino, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in San Bernardino, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.