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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 10.7% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 26.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 15.5% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 28.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$25.3 $25.3

-21.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.5 $73.5

$102 $102

-27.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$10.03 $10.03

1.60%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.63 $5.63

1.42%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$2.65 $2.65

4.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.03 $2.03

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.83 $7.83

-24.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.01 $9.01

-13.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$1.34 $1.34

-17.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.4 $3.4

$4.93 $4.93

-31.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.74 $4.74

-27.43%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$5.4 $5.4

-20.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$12.34 $12.34

-1.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.54 $11.54

-7.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.65 $14.65

$14.83 $14.83

-1.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$6.31 $6.31

-20.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.91 $1.91

-21.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.6 $4.6

$3.76 $3.76

22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$5.4 $5.4

-23.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.29 $3.29

-13.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.09 $3.09

-10.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.17 $2.17

-6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2 $2

8.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$12.87 $12.87

-32.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.11 $15.11

-1.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.7 $1.7

33.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.94 $3.94

-9.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.74 $1.74

-14.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.58 $43.58

$65.1 $65.1

-33.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.05 $6.05

-25.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.09 $2.09

-16.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.6 $34.6

$52 $52

-33.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.26 $1.26

-38.89%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$28.2K $28.2K

-9.58%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.38%

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

$170 $170

$205 $205

-16.83%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$53.3 $53.3

10.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 $65.1

$71.7 $71.7

-9.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.4 $61.4

$67.3 $67.3

-8.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.86 $9.86

$18.61 $18.61

-47.02%

Cinema Ticket

$14.8 $14.8

$12.68 $12.68

16.72%

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

$1,411 $1,411

$1,446 $1,446

-2.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$36.4K $36.4K

-40.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$69.3 $69.3

-20.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.89 $45.89

$40.52 $40.52

13.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$75.7 $75.7

12.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$141 $141

-17.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$2,651 $2,651

-16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,416 $1,416

$2,273 $2,273

-37.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,826 $3,826

$5,143 $5,143

-25.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,699 $2,699

$4,348 $4,348

-37.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,496 $4,496

$10.7K $10.7K

-57.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,115 $3,115

$10K $10K

-68.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,958 $4,958

$5,255 $5,255

-5.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.68

-3.44%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: November 4, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: November 4, 2025

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