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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 0.2% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 39.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Austin, TX is 18.4% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 37.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$20.55 $20.55
-4.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$65.3 $65.3
16.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.69 $11.69
-14.88%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.06 $5.06
10.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.17 $3.17
-16.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.45 $2.45
-10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.97 $6.97
-16.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$9.85 $9.85
-19.59%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.49 $1.49
-24.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.96 $4.96
-33.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$3.32 $3.32
5.42%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.78 $4.78
-7.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$14.61 $14.61
-17.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$15.34 $15.34
-30.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$22.18 $22.18
-33.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6 $6
-18.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.18 $2.18
-30.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5 $5
-9.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$6.47 $6.47
-39.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.6 $3.6
-24.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.45 $4.45
-37.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.75 $2.75
-26.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.74 $2.74
-20.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$11.16 $11.16
-20.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$13.76 $13.76
8.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.77 $1.77
32.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.43 $3.43
0.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$4.37 $4.37
-66.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$66.5 $66.5
-35.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$3.54 $3.54
21.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.93 $1.93
-5.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$30.31 $30.31
14.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.24 $1.24
-41.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$30K $30K
-15.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$257 $257
-31.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$47.84 $47.84
23.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$63.5 $63.5
2.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$94.4 $94.4
-33.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$15.8 $15.8
-6.84%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,987 $1,987
-30.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$26K $26K
-13.87%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$53.8 $53.8
4.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$29.65 $29.65
56.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$86.8 $86.8
-0.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$125 $125
-4.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,795 $2,795
-21.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$2,869 $2,869
-51.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$5,762 $5,762
-32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$5,478 $5,478
-50.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$3,115 $3,115
41.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$2,308 $2,308
36.99%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$7,443 $7,443
-34.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.32
2.06%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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