Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Ana, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Ana, CA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 6.4% cheaper than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Austin, TX is 7.9% more expensive than Santa Ana, CA without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$18.18 $18.18
8.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$85.4 $85.4
-10.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$14.89 $14.89
-33.18%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.01 $5.01
11.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.64 $2.64
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.99 $1.99
10.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.96 $6.96
-16.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$6.97 $6.97
13.63%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.12 $1.12
0.89%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.96 $3.96
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.77 $4.77
-26.62%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$7.02 $7.02
-37.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$12.28 $12.28
-2.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$16.11 $16.11
-33.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$14.64 $14.64
0.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$4.44 $4.44
9.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.73 $1.73
-12.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.13 $4.13
9.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.75 $5.75
-31.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.18 $3.18
-14.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.82 $2.82
-2.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2 $2
0.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.12 $2.12
2.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$11.06 $11.06
-19.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$9.94 $9.94
50.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2 $2
17.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.44 $3.44
-
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.01 $2.01
-26.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$69.9 $69.9
-38.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$6.7 $6.7
-35.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.68 $2.68
-32.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$29.25 $29.25
18.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.28 $1.28
-42.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$24.2K $24.2K
5.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24K $24K
9.51%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$158 $158
12.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$46.15 $46.15
27.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$58.9 $58.9
10.05%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$24.79 $24.79
152.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$10.09 $10.09
0.79%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.24 $14.24
3.37%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,227 $1,227
12.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$23.2K $23.2K
-3.58%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$46.81 $46.81
20.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$34.21 $34.21
35.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$84.9 $84.9
2.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$86.6 $86.6
37.30%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,221 $2,221
-1.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$1,914 $1,914
-27.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$3,055 $3,055
27.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$3,241 $3,241
-17.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,331 $4,331
1.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$4,273 $4,273
-26.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Santa Ana, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$3,913 $3,913
24.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.58
-1.98%

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 Santa Ana, CA: October 28, 2025

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