Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $4,430 in Santa Monica, CA, rent and utilities included – about $21,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
214

Cost of Living Index in Santa Monica, CA
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Santa Monica, CA Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Santa Monica, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,430

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Monica, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $4,430 in Santa Monica, CA.

Austin, TX $2,663
Santa Monica, CA $4,430

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $6,581 in Santa Monica, CA.

Austin, TX $4,133
Santa Monica, CA $6,581

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $8,732 in Santa Monica, CA.

Austin, TX $5,603
Santa Monica, CA $8,732

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 40% less than in Santa Monica, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Santa Monica, CA 228% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$26.77 $26.77

-22.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$118 $118

-28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$14.88 $14.88

-17.20%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.93 $5.93

-5.06%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.26 $3.26

14.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.40 $2.40

4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.13 $8.13

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$9.95 $9.95

-9.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.34 $1.34

-16.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.57 $4.57

-17.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.65 $4.65

-29.89%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$5.73 $5.73

-27.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$15.77 $15.77

-18.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$14.21 $14.21

-0.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$19.80 $19.80

-18.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.76 $4.76

-9.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.29 $2.29

-36.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.95 $3.95

14.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.45 $5.45

-20.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.31 $3.31

-22.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.83 $2.83

-16.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.14 $2.14

-16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.48 $2.48

-10.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$11.56 $11.56

-14.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.25 $15.25

-1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.43 $2.43

20.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.06 $3.06

13.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.52 $2.52

-40.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$67.0 $67.0

-37.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.15 $3.15

-13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.90 $1.90

-12.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$32.68 $32.68

8.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.45 $1.45

-34.48%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-2.04%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

5.88%

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

$229 $229

$218 $218

5.14%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$46.37 $46.37

28.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$65.1 $65.1

7.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$70.7 $70.7

-19.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$44.11 $44.11

-62.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$19.36 $19.36

-26.24%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$1,694 $1,694

-11.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$32.5K $32.5K

-33.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$88.9 $88.9

-40.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$54.8 $54.8

-19.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$104 $104

-18.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$121 $121

-15.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$3,328 $3,328

-42.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$2,860 $2,860

-55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$5,804 $5,804

-36.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$5,048 $5,048

-49.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$10.9K $10.9K

-29.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$7,924 $7,924

-60.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$6,900 $6,900

-25.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.62

2.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K 64.6% 125% $1.6K

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$462 10.4% 14.1% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Santa Monica, CA

$329 7.4% 8.1% $29

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Santa Monica, CA

$413 9.3% 16.8% $59

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Santa Monica, CA

$166 3.8% 29.8% $38

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$109 2.5% 27.5% $24

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$90 2% 53% $31

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $3,328 in Santa Monica, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Monica, CA pays 35% 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 $118 in Santa Monica, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $462 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Santa Monica, CA

🕒 Local time

17:02 5:02 PM

15:02 3:02 PM

2 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

89,736

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Santa Monica, CA 1,990 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Santa Monica, CA

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 Monica, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 66% 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, salaries run 35% lower in Santa Monica, CA. 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: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $3,328 in Santa Monica, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $4,430 in Santa Monica, CA – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 61% 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 $2,663 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 66% less than in Santa Monica, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.