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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,831 in San Dimas, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $4,319 in San Dimas, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $5,806 in San Dimas, CA.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, San Dimas, CA 106% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$24.82 $24.82

-20.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$99.4 $99.4

-15.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.02 $9.02

36.36%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$6.07 $6.07

-9.72%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.44 $3.44

8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.09 $3.09

-23.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.95 $6.95

11.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.42 $7.42

23.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.43 $1.43

-20.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.68 $4.68

-19.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.17 $7.17

-52.16%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.20 $5.20

-16.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$19.10 $19.10

-31.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.46 $14.46

-0.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$22.22 $22.22

-22.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.40 $8.40

-46.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.32 $3.32

-56.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$6.45 $6.45

-27.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$10.19 $10.19

-51.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.89 $2.89

3.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.84 $4.84

-44.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$3.52 $3.52

-47.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.71 $2.71

-19.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$11.56 $11.56

-18.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.93 $15.93

-5.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.30 $2.30

25.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.61 $4.61

-24.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.04 $2.04

-19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.87 $2.87

-2.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.44 $2.44

-35.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$59.8 $59.8

-41.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.38 $1.38

-34.78%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.3K $37.3K

-3.84%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

8.38%

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

$222 $222

$253 $253

-12.28%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$74.7 $74.7

-22.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$70.1 $70.1

-1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$41.22 $41.22

60.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.19 $14.19

-2.89%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,441 $1,441

5.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$37.5K $37.5K

-43.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$86.1 $86.1

-36.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$45.95 $45.95

-4.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$78.8 $78.8

13.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$138 $138

-21.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,580 $1,580

22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,309 $1,309

-3.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,533 $2,533

48.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,151 $2,151

20.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,804 $2,804

164.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,433 $2,433

31.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,995 $3,995

27.30%

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 Dimas, CA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,580 in San Dimas, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 27% 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 $99.0 in San Dimas, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $563 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 San Dimas, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in San Dimas, 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 27% 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 $1,580 in San Dimas, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,441 in San Dimas, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $99.0 in San Dimas, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and San Dimas, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in San Dimas, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.