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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,698 in Tulare, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,982 in Tulare, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $5,266 in Tulare, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than Tulare, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Tulare, CA 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$20.42 $20.42

-4.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$101 $101

-26.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.62 $11.62

-14.63%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.94 $5.94

-5.56%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.22 $3.22

-18.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.38 $2.38

-11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$8.90 $8.90

-33.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$10.80 $10.80

-26.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.89 $0.89

23.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.75 $2.75

24.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.29 $3.29

1.22%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.96 $4.96

-12.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$21.38 $21.38

-42.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$15.55 $15.55

-32.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$22.59 $22.59

-35.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.96 $5.96

-19.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.54 $2.54

-40.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.97 $4.97

-7.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.72 $6.72

-39.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.45 $3.45

-19.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$4.48 $4.48

-36.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.08 $3.08

-36.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.85 $2.85

-21.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$11.06 $11.06

-17.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.79 $12.79

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.37 $2.37

-2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.42 $3.42

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.48 $3.48

22.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$30.45 $30.45

13.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.29 $1.29

-38.76%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

-12.18%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.3K $27.3K

-3.69%

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

$174 $174

$189 $189

-7.74%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$48.92 $48.92

19.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$66.3 $66.3

1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$43.62 $43.62

41.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$12.63 $12.63

21.06%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,989 $1,989

-30.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-16.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$50.8 $50.8

11.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$44.97 $44.97

3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$71.2 $71.2

22.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$89.2 $89.2

30.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,575 $1,575

40.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,377 $1,377

4.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,609 $2,609

45.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,246 $2,246

16.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$2,991 $2,991

140.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,396 $2,396

31.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Tulare, CA: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,575 in Tulare, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Tulare, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $488 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 Tulare, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tulare, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tulare, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,119 in Austin, TX and $4,048 in Tulare, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,575 in Tulare, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,379 in Austin, TX versus $1,989 in Tulare, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tulare, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Tulare, 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.

Expats usually find Tulare, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.