Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $2,979 in Temecula, CA, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Temecula, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
145

Cost of Living Index in Temecula, CA
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Temecula, CA Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Temecula, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,979

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,979 in Temecula, CA.

Austin, TX $2,663
Temecula, CA $2,979

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $4,220 in Temecula, CA.

Austin, TX $4,133
Temecula, CA $4,220

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $5,462 in Temecula, CA.

Austin, TX $5,603
Temecula, CA $5,462

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 11% less than in Temecula, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Temecula, CA 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$20.12 $20.12

3.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$66.4 $66.4

27.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.16 $10.16

21.26%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.61 $5.61

0.36%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.72 $2.72

36.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.51 $1.51

65.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$5.12 $5.12

57.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$5.92 $5.92

52.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.18 $1.18

-5.08%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.23 $3.23

16.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.86 $2.86

13.99%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$3.51 $3.51

18.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$13.74 $13.74

-6.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$13.34 $13.34

6.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$12.19 $12.19

33.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.01 $4.01

7.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.24 $2.24

-34.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.41 $4.41

2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.50 $4.50

-3.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.03 $4.03

-35.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.87 $2.87

-18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.94 $1.94

-8.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.95 $1.95

13.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$11.72 $11.72

-15.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.66 $13.66

10.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.58 $1.58

84.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.79 $1.79

93.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.78 $1.78

-16.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$58.8 $58.8

-29.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.38 $3.38

-19.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.87 $1.87

-11.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$23.84 $23.84

48.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.31 $1.31

-27.48%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$33.0K $33.0K

9.17%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$22.8K $22.8K

18.66%

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

$229 $229

$217 $217

5.70%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$79.5 $79.5

-25.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$64.7 $64.7

8.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$22.77 $22.77

151.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$24.61 $24.61

-33.64%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$12.16 $12.16

17.43%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$798 $798

88.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$8,473 $8,473

153.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$31.84 $31.84

65.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$34.99 $34.99

25.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$59.1 $59.1

43.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$139 $139

-25.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$2,206 $2,206

-13.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$1,684 $1,684

-24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$3,278 $3,278

11.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$2,643 $2,643

-3.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$3,754 $3,754

102.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$3,730 $3,730

-15.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$5,100 $5,100

0.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.66

1.95%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Temecula, CA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Temecula, CA

$1.7K 56.6% 32.2% $410

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Temecula, CA

$376 12.6% 7.2% $29

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Temecula, CA

$361 12.1% 0.7% $2.5

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Temecula, CA

$313 10.5% 11.5% $41

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Temecula, CA

$119 4% 7% $9

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Temecula, CA

$47 1.6% 45.1% $39

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Temecula, CA

$79 2.6% 34.1% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $2,206 in Temecula, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 0% 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 $66.0 in Temecula, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $376 per month, with Temecula, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Temecula, CA

🕒 Local time

10:24 10:24 AM

08:24 8:24 AM

2 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

100,097

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Austin, TX Temecula, CA 1,860 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Temecula, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 0% 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: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $2,206 in Temecula, 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 $2,979 in Temecula, CA – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 41% less than in Temecula, 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 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 Temecula, 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 12% less than in Temecula, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.