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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 21.1% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 40% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 7.8% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$22.73 $22.73

-13.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$64.9 $64.9

17.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.05 $11.05

-9.95%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.77 $5.77

-2.77%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.6 $2.6

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.56 $2.56

-14.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.94 $5.94

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$9.47 $9.47

-16.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.27 $1.27

-11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.96 $3.96

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$6.91 $6.91

-49.35%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$4.54 $4.54

-3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$15.52 $15.52

-22.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$12.85 $12.85

-16.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$18.39 $18.39

-19.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.98 $4.98

-2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.91 $2.91

-47.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$6.18 $6.18

-26.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$8.42 $8.42

-53.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.76 $3.76

-27.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.79 $3.79

-27.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.5 $2.5

-19.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.96 $2.96

-26.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$10.81 $10.81

-18.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$12.59 $12.59

18.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.1 $2.1

11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.49 $3.49

-1.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.53 $1.53

-3.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$30.14 $30.14

42.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.59 $3.59

19.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.65 $1.65

10.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$28.66 $28.66

20.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.23 $1.23

-40.65%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$27K $27K

-5.58%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.1K $27.1K

-2.84%

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

$177 $177

$187 $187

-5.40%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$51.3 $51.3

14.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$61.6 $61.6

5.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$247 $247

-74.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$39.9 $39.9

-74.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$14.71 $14.71

0.07%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,967 $1,967

-29.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

-5.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$41.12 $41.12

36.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$37.89 $37.89

22.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$101 $101

-14.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$122 $122

-2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$3,340 $3,340

-34.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$2,833 $2,833

-50.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$4,080 $4,080

-4.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$3,280 $3,280

-18.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$7,615 $7,615

-42.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$5,279 $5,279

-40.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$5,319 $5,319

-8.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.32

2.06%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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

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