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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $3,495 in Ventura, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $4,700 in Ventura, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,906 in Ventura, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 22% less than in Ventura, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Ventura, CA 155% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$25.11 $25.11

-21.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$69.1 $69.1

22.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$13.66 $13.66

-9.96%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.84 $5.84

-6.68%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$3.15 $3.15

14.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.75 $2.75

-12.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$7.19 $7.19

10.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$8.77 $8.77

1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.37 $1.37

-21.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.42 $5.42

-32.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.14 $2.14

56.07%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$6.29 $6.29

-31.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$8.84 $8.84

47.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$8.56 $8.56

66.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$16.39 $16.39

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.40 $3.40

32.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.54 $1.54

-7.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.27 $3.27

40.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.48 $4.48

4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.15 $2.15

26.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.94 $1.94

-2.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.21 $2.21

-0.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$10.03 $10.03

0.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.49 $14.49

4.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.91 $1.91

52.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.69 $2.69

22.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$49.85 $49.85

-16.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.03 $3.03

-10.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.02 $2.02

-18.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$27.95 $27.95

25.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.37 $1.37

-35.04%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

0.10%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.61%

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

$223 $223

$152 $152

47.21%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$58.8 $58.8

-2.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$76.7 $76.7

-10.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$54.0 $54.0

21.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$19.94 $19.94

-26.73%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$15.18 $15.18

-8.10%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$1,089 $1,089

39.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$35.7K $35.7K

-40.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$50.6 $50.6

5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$30.09 $30.09

42.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$65.6 $65.6

29.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$85.1 $85.1

21.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$2,394 $2,394

-18.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$2,134 $2,134

-40.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$3,212 $3,212

17.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$3,100 $3,100

-17.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$6,451 $6,451

11.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$6,078 $6,078

-48.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,875 $4,875

1.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.37

1.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ventura, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $2,394 in Ventura, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2% 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 $69.0 in Ventura, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $372 per month, with Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ventura, 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 2% 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $2,394 in Ventura, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,495 in Ventura, CA – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 20% less than in Ventura, 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 $2,715 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 Ventura, 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 29% less than in Ventura, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.