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

😐 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 24.8% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 15.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 34.6% more expensive than Santa Maria, CA without rent, and 3.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$20.18 $20.18

-2.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$68.9 $68.9

10.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.29 $11.29

-11.87%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.76 $4.76

17.86%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.45 $2.45

7.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.01 $2.01

8.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.11 $6.11

-4.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.16 $8.16

-2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$2.72 $2.72

21.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$4.76 $4.76

-26.47%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$3.59 $3.59

22.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$10.26 $10.26

16.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.37 $8.37

27.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$17.21 $17.21

-14.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.81 $3.81

28.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.71 $1.71

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.48 $3.48

30.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.25 $3.25

20.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.07 $3.07

-11.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.07 $2.07

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.78 $1.78

12.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.31 $1.31

66.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$11 $11

-19.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$15.26 $15.26

-1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.71 $1.71

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.31 $3.31

3.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.94 $1.94

-23.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.49 $3.49

23.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.81 $1.81

0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$24.6 $24.6

40.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.23 $1.23

-40.65%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$36.8K $36.8K

-30.81%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

-10.39%

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

$177 $177

$166 $166

6.28%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$51.1 $51.1

15.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$85.4 $85.4

-24.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$43.52 $43.52

43.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$14.55 $14.55

1.17%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$992 $992

38.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$12.9K $12.9K

74.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$55.2 $55.2

1.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$39.73 $39.73

16.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$73 $73

18.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$78.1 $78.1

52.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,257 $2,257

-3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$2,063 $2,063

-32.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$3,376 $3,376

15.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$3,138 $3,138

-14.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$7,992 $7,992

-44.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$7,900 $7,900

-59.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$4,387 $4,387

11.04%

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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

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