Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Santa Cruz

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz: $676 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $24,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
33

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz
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Santa Cruz Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Santa Cruz

🇧🇴 Bolivia

$676

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Santa Cruz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Santa Cruz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $676 in Santa Cruz.

Austin, TX $2,704
Santa Cruz $676

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,255 in Santa Cruz.

Austin, TX $4,133
Santa Cruz $1,255

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $1,834 in Santa Cruz.

Austin, TX $5,562
Santa Cruz $1,834

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 300% more expensive than in Santa Cruz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Santa Cruz is 50% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$2.08 BOB 24.47

872.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$17.80 BOB 209

377.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$5.59 BOB 65.8

120.93%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$1.89 BOB 22.26

189.42%

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

$3.82 $3.82

$0.53 BOB 6.24

620.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.43 BOB 5.03

481.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$0.98 BOB 11.57

722.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

$1.34 BOB 15.81

570.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.82 BOB 9.63

37.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.06 BOB 12.44

256.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$1.09 BOB 12.84

198.17%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$1.13 BOB 13.27

266.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$3.43 BOB 40.41

281.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$2.77 BOB 32.58

416.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

$5.29 BOB 62.3

201.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$1.89 BOB 22.26

131.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.68 BOB 7.99

113.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$0.80 BOB 9.47

467.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$0.78 BOB 9.14

437.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$0.74 BOB 8.73

255.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.70 BOB 8.19

237.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$0.64 BOB 7.51

175.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.73 BOB 8.57

195.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$2.07 BOB 24.40

373.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$4.44 BOB 52.2

231.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.15 BOB 13.56

141.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.66 BOB 19.54

109.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.28 BOB 3.31

432.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

$24.41 BOB 287

65.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.84 BOB 21.60

45.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.99 BOB 11.67

59.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

$6.80 BOB 80.0

418.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.65 BOB 7.65

52.31%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$14.7K BOB 173.5K

142.95%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$20.6K BOB 242.4K

31.97%

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

$219 $219

$38.52 BOB 453

469.24%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$20.51 BOB 241

182.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$18.97 BOB 223

260.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

$20.99 BOB 247

175.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.61 BOB 160

8.89%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$6.38 BOB 75.1

121.47%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$120 BOB 1,416

1154.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$3,216 BOB 37.9K

567.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$29.21 BOB 344

76.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

$37.59 BOB 442

17.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$72.1 BOB 848

18.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$62.0 BOB 730

69.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$277 BOB 3,258

598.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$255 BOB 3,005

398.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

$910 BOB 10.7K

303.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$873 BOB 10.3K

189.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

$1,342 BOB 15.8K

467.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

$750 BOB 8,822

326.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$302 BOB 3,553

1591.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.17

10.05%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Santa Cruz

$255 37.6% 79.9% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Santa Cruz

$121 17.9% 69.9% $282

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Santa Cruz

$68 10% 80.6% $281

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Santa Cruz

$78 11.5% 77.4% $268

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Santa Cruz

$90 13.3% 29.8% $38

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Santa Cruz

$34 5% 60.8% $52

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Santa Cruz

$32 4.8% 43.3% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $277 in Santa Cruz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1591% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $18.00 in Santa Cruz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $121 per month, with Santa Cruz cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇧🇴 Santa Cruz

🕒 Local time

07:01 7:01 AM

08:01 8:01 AM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

1,800,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Bolivian Boliviano BOB Bs.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

100 BOB = 8.5 USD

100 BOB = 7.58 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BOB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇧🇴 Bolivian Boliviano (Bs.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Bolivian Boliviano exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 11.77 BOB (100 BOB = 8.5 USD). 1 EUR = 13.19 BOB (100 BOB = 7.58 EUR).

BOB to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Santa Cruz 6,500 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Santa Cruz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz wins on cost – living expenses run 300% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Cruz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 1591% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $277 in Santa Cruz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $676 in Santa Cruz – a 300% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Santa Cruz runs roughly 66% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $676 in Santa Cruz versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Santa Cruz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 300% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.