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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,399 in Upland, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,458 in Upland, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $4,518 in Upland, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than in Upland, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Upland, CA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$15.09 $15.09

29.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$69.7 $69.7

6.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.77 $11.77

-15.72%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$1.96 $1.96

186.22%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.01 $2.01

30.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.03 $2.03

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$7.23 $7.23

-18.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.13 $8.13

-2.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.17 $1.17

-5.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.69 $1.69

102.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$2.12 $2.12

57.08%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$3.87 $3.87

12.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$8.90 $8.90

37.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$6.69 $6.69

56.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$10.97 $10.97

33.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.29 $4.29

11.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.66 $1.66

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.23 $3.23

42.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.66 $5.66

-28.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.16 $2.16

28.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.80 $2.80

1.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.02 $2.02

-3.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.09 $2.09

7.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$10.83 $10.83

-16.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$12.23 $12.23

21.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.97 $1.97

17.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.27 $1.27

167.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.03 $2.03

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$6.73 $6.73

-36.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.57 $1.57

15.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$29.23 $29.23

18.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.03 $1.03

-23.30%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.29%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$28.5K $28.5K

-7.60%

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

$174 $174

$160 $160

8.70%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$53.1 $53.1

9.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$58.6 $58.6

14.69%

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

$12.15 $12.15

25.84%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,480 $1,480

-6.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$23.2K $23.2K

-5.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$46.68 $46.68

21.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$33.60 $33.60

38.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$86.4 $86.4

0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$102 $102

14.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,520 $1,520

45.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,378 $1,378

4.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,611 $2,611

45.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,220 $2,220

18.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$5,286 $5,286

-5.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

29.00%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 13, 2026

Last update for Upland, CA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,520 in Upland, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Upland, CA pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Upland, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $300 per month, with Upland, CA 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 Upland, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Upland, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Upland, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Upland, 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,520 in Upland, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,379 in Austin, TX versus $1,480 in Upland, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Upland, CA – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,399 in Upland, CA versus $2,746 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Upland, CA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Upland, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Upland, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.