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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $6,985 in Santa Monica, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $9,408 in Santa Monica, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 42% less than in Santa Monica, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Santa Monica, CA 240% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$25.17 $25.17

-22.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$98.5 $98.5

-23.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.35 $12.35

-19.68%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.59 $5.59

1.43%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.95 $2.95

-6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.26 $2.26

-3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$8.61 $8.61

-32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$9.24 $9.24

-15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.18 $1.18

-7.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.29 $4.29

-20.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.37 $4.37

-21.51%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.99 $6.99

-37.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$12.47 $12.47

-4.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$13.90 $13.90

-22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.69 $14.69

-2.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.60 $5.60

-13.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.98 $1.98

-21.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.96 $3.96

12.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.72 $5.72

-31.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.97 $2.97

-7.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.51 $2.51

9.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.90 $1.90

7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.16 $2.16

4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.97 $10.97

-18.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.15 $15.15

-1.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.52 $2.52

-6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$5.15 $5.15

-30.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.18 $2.18

-32.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$78.8 $78.8

-45.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.07 $3.07

39.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.71 $1.71

7.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.91 $28.91

22.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.30 $1.30

-44.62%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$24.4K $24.4K

5.62%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

3.97%

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

$174 $174

$192 $192

-9.45%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$58.9 $58.9

2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$65.8 $65.8

0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$122 $122

-48.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$45.04 $45.04

-78.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$18.15 $18.15

-16.03%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,806 $1,806

-23.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$14.8K $14.8K

49.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$62.3 $62.3

-8.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$34.90 $34.90

29.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$103 $103

-15.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$152 $152

-21.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$3,293 $3,293

-31.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$2,878 $2,878

-50.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$6,994 $6,994

-45.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$5,951 $5,951

-55.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$10.8K $10.8K

-34.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$8,190 $8,190

-61.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$7,147 $7,147

-28.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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 Monica, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $3,293 in Santa Monica, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Monica, CA pays 40% 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 $98.0 in Santa Monica, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $436 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 Monica, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA earns 40% 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 $3,293 in Santa Monica, 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 $4,561 in Santa Monica, CA – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 83% less than in Santa Monica, 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 Monica, 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 72% less than in Santa Monica, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.