Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Saratoga, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Saratoga, CA: $2,517 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. The total is higher in Austin, TX despite lower rent and utilities.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Saratoga, CA
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Saratoga, CA Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Saratoga, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,517

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Saratoga, 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 Saratoga, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $2,517 in Saratoga, CA.

Austin, TX $2,698
Saratoga, CA $2,517

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $3,732 in Saratoga, CA.

Austin, TX $4,160
Saratoga, CA $3,732

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $4,947 in Saratoga, CA.

Austin, TX $5,622
Saratoga, CA $4,947

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Saratoga, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Saratoga, CA 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.63 $20.63

$25.17 $25.17

-18.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$110 $110

-22.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$13.16 $13.16

-8.28%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.98 $4.98

10.04%

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

$3.80 $3.80

$1.96 $1.96

93.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.98 $0.98

152.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$3.09 $3.09

160.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$6.08 $6.08

46.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.30 $1.30

-14.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.39 $3.39

9.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.25 $3.25

3.69%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.95 $3.95

9.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$5.53 $5.53

137.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$4.35 $4.35

225.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$10.87 $10.87

50.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.67 $4.67

-2.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.08 $1.08

35.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.12 $1.12

320.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.25 $3.25

27.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$0.76 $0.76

239.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.80 $0.80

193.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.23 $1.23

43.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.46 $1.46

46.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$11.72 $11.72

-13.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$3.91 $3.91

288.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.74 $1.74

62.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.63 $4.63

-25.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.03 $2.03

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

$65.9 $65.9

-37.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.51 $3.51

-20.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.89 $0.89

79.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$26.05 $26.05

31.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.48 $1.48

-36.49%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$21.9K $21.9K

55.24%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.7K $24.7K

8.51%

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

$223 $223

$288 $288

-22.76%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$35.61 $35.61

65.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$29.64 $29.64

138.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$40.95 $40.95

40.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

$15.11 $15.11

9.40%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$7.96 $7.96

79.15%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$1,407 $1,407

7.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$42.0K $42.0K

-50.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$39.80 $39.80

28.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$25.03 $25.03

76.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$76.1 $76.1

14.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$152 $152

-31.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 $1,940

$1,584 $1,584

22.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$1,304 $1,304

0.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,492 $2,492

47.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

$2,139 $2,139

19.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

$2,515 $2,515

192.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

$2,359 $2,359

32.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,286 $5,286

$8,088 $8,088

-34.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

13.17%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Saratoga, CA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8%

Saratoga, CA

$1.3K 51.8% 0.9% $12

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$406 15.1%

Saratoga, CA

$249 9.9% 38.6% $157

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$352 13.1%

Saratoga, CA

$354 14% 0.4% $1.4

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$350 13%

Saratoga, CA

$340 13.5% 2.9% $10

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.8%

Saratoga, CA

$132 5.2% 2% $2.6

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Saratoga, CA

$57 2.3% 34% $29

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Saratoga, CA

$82 3.3% 41.5% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,584 in Saratoga, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saratoga, CA pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $110 in Saratoga, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $406 vs $249, with Saratoga, CA cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Saratoga, CA

🕒 Local time

08:16 8:16 AM

06:16 6:16 AM

2 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

30,153

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Austin, TX Saratoga, CA 2,370 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Saratoga, 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 Saratoga, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saratoga, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Saratoga, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Saratoga, 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: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,584 in Saratoga, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,517 in Saratoga, CA – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Saratoga, CA runs roughly 61% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Saratoga, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Saratoga, 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 Saratoga, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.