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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,213 in Santa Ana, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,730 in Santa Ana, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $6,247 in Santa Ana, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 17% less than in Santa Ana, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Santa Ana, CA 140% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$17.68 $17.68

11.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$85.5 $85.5

-12.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.78 $14.78

-32.88%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.04 $5.04

12.50%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.67 $2.67

3.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.03 $2.03

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.90 $6.90

-15.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.09 $7.09

9.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.08 $1.08

0.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.12 $4.12

-17.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.67 $4.67

-26.55%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.95 $6.95

-36.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.36 $12.36

-3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$15.89 $15.89

-32.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.73 $14.73

-2.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.45 $4.45

8.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.65 $1.65

-6.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.05 $4.05

10.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.49 $5.49

-28.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.13 $3.13

-12.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.00 $2.00

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.18 $2.18

3.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.80 $10.80

-17.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.29 $16.29

-8.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.98 $1.98

18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.42 $3.42

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.96 $1.96

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$68.2 $68.2

-36.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$6.77 $6.77

-36.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.79 $2.79

-34.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.49 $29.49

20.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.25 $1.25

-42.40%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

9.72%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

8.39%

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

$174 $174

$160 $160

8.31%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$46.46 $46.46

29.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$58.9 $58.9

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$25.42 $25.42

146.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$9.98 $9.98

-1.50%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.84 $13.84

10.12%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,192 $1,192

16.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.0K $23.0K

-3.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$47.75 $47.75

18.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$33.55 $33.55

35.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$83.9 $83.9

3.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$83.6 $83.6

42.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,171 $2,171

3.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,918 $1,918

-25.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,993 $2,993

26.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$3,190 $3,190

-17.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$4,517 $4,517

55.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$4,248 $4,248

-25.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,146 $3,146

62.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.58

-1.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,171 in Santa Ana, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $85.0 in Santa Ana, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $434 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 Santa Ana, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Santa Ana, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $2,171 in Santa Ana, 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 $3,213 in Santa Ana, CA – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 59% less than in Santa Ana, 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 21% less than in Santa Ana, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.