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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $4,524 in San Francisco, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $6,566 in San Francisco, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $8,608 in San Francisco, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 41% less than in San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, San Francisco, CA 238% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$25.26 $25.26

-22.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$131 $131

-42.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.76 $14.76

-32.79%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.99 $5.99

-5.34%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.34 $3.34

-17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.56 $2.56

-15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$7.93 $7.93

-26.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$8.11 $8.11

-4.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.47 $1.47

-25.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.16 $5.16

-33.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$6.70 $6.70

-48.81%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.24 $6.24

-29.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$23.76 $23.76

-49.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$15.14 $15.14

-28.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$23.76 $23.76

-39.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$7.19 $7.19

-32.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.88 $2.88

-46.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.37 $5.37

-16.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$7.69 $7.69

-49.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.77 $3.77

-27.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.96 $3.96

-30.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.79 $2.79

-26.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.83 $2.83

-20.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$13.93 $13.93

-35.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.20 $15.20

-2.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.53 $2.53

-7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.25 $3.25

9.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.02 $3.02

-51.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$93.3 $93.3

-53.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.11 $4.11

4.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.98 $1.98

-7.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$38.33 $38.33

-7.28%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

-27.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.97%

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

$174 $174

$225 $225

-22.94%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$63.5 $63.5

-5.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$66.8 $66.8

-0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$97.3 $97.3

-35.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$12.45 $12.45

-21.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$16.76 $16.76

-9.07%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$3,149 $3,149

-55.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$38.6K $38.6K

-42.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$67.8 $67.8

-16.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$45.33 $45.33

0.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$101 $101

-14.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$148 $148

-19.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$3,349 $3,349

-32.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$2,760 $2,760

-48.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$5,323 $5,323

-29.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$4,574 $4,574

-42.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$10.8K $10.8K

-34.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$9,239 $9,239

-65.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$7,632 $7,632

-33.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.36

1.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for San Francisco, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $3,349 in San Francisco, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Francisco, CA pays 49% 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 $131 in San Francisco, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 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 Francisco, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in San Francisco, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, San Francisco, CA earns 49% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $3,349 in San Francisco, 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 $4,524 in San Francisco, CA – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 117% less than in San Francisco, 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,659 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in San Francisco, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.