Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Marcos, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Marcos, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 5.3% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 23.4% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 9.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.50 $19.50
$18.81 $18.81
3.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$68.1 $68.1
10.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$10.02 $10.02
-1.40%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$4.91 $4.91
16.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.74 $2.74
1.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.17 $2.17
-1.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.02 $6.02
1.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86 $7.86
$7.06 $7.06
11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.90 $0.90
21.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.03 $3.03
13.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.46 $3.46
-4.34%
Eggs
$4.29 $4.29
$3.92 $3.92
9.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.98 $11.98
$9.62 $9.62
24.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 $10.74
$12.15 $12.15
-11.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$17.60 $17.60
-15.97%
Apples (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$4.20 $4.20
19.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.18 $1.18
26.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$3.97 $3.97
11.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.52 $2.52
56.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.81 $2.81
-2.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.38 $2.38
14.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.78 $1.78
14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.26 $2.26
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.09 $9.09
$7.87 $7.87
15.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.99 $14.99
$12.36 $12.36
21.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.95 $1.95
20.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.75 $3.75
-5.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.02 $2.02
-26.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.05 $44.05
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.90 $3.90
14.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.89 $1.89
-6.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.44 $34.44
$30.41 $30.41
13.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$0.72 $0.72
2.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$32.6K $32.6K
-21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$25.0K $25.0K
6.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$193 $193
-10.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.3 $59.3
$62.0 $62.0
-4.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$64.5 $64.5
3.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.1 $63.1
$70.4 $70.4
-10.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.28 $15.28
$15.05 $15.05
1.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,406 $1,406
$668 $668
110.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.0K $22.0K
$18.8K $18.8K
16.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$47.03 $47.03
20.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.72 $45.72
$43.69 $43.69
4.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 $86.0
$100 $100
-14.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$122 $122
-3.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,196 $2,196
$1,320 $1,320
66.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 $1,434
$1,379 $1,379
3.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,878 $3,878
$3,008 $3,008
28.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,610 $2,610
$2,372 $2,372
10.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,228 $7,228
$2,406 $2,406
200.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,282 $3,282
$1,895 $1,895
73.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
San Marcos, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,984 $4,984
$3,151 $3,151
58.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.44
0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: April 13, 2026

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

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