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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,984 in Santa Clara, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $5,963 in Santa Clara, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $7,942 in Santa Clara, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 33% less than in Santa Clara, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Santa Clara, CA 197% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$24.87 $24.87

-21.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$109 $109

-31.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.19 $14.19

-30.09%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$6.07 $6.07

-6.59%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.25 $3.25

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.47 $2.47

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$9.19 $9.19

-36.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$9.23 $9.23

-15.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.48 $1.48

-26.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.04 $5.04

-32.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.15 $3.15

8.89%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$5.35 $5.35

-17.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$20.87 $20.87

-42.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$15.13 $15.13

-28.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$23.11 $23.11

-38.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.26 $6.26

-22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$2.77 $2.77

-44.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.00 $5.00

-10.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$6.82 $6.82

-42.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.57 $3.57

-23.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.97 $3.97

-30.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.79 $2.79

-26.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.82 $2.82

-20.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.09 $11.09

-19.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.93 $12.93

14.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.37 $2.37

-0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.34 $3.34

6.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.91 $2.91

-49.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$70.7 $70.7

-39.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.10 $4.10

4.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.91 $1.91

-3.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.50 $29.50

20.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.31 $1.31

-45.04%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.9K $29.9K

-14.04%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.25%

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

$174 $174

$221 $221

-21.58%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$48.01 $48.01

25.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

-0.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$101 $101

-37.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$12.62 $12.62

-22.11%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$16.83 $16.83

-9.45%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,966 $1,966

-29.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-14.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$57.0 $57.0

-0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$44.59 $44.59

1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$88.3 $88.3

-2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$137 $137

-12.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,964 $2,964

-24.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$2,361 $2,361

-39.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$4,296 $4,296

-12.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$4,274 $4,274

-38.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$8,962 $8,962

-21.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$9,038 $9,038

-65.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$7,953 $7,953

-35.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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 Clara, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,964 in Santa Clara, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Clara, CA pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $109 in Santa Clara, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $517 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 Clara, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Santa Clara, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Santa Clara, CA earns 56% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $2,964 in Santa Clara, 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 $3,984 in Santa Clara, CA – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 64% less than in Santa Clara, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Santa Clara, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Santa Clara, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.