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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,493 in Visalia, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,780 in Visalia, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,068 in Visalia, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than in Visalia, CA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Visalia, CA 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$20.15 $20.15

-2.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$98.5 $98.5

-14.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.52 $9.52

29.20%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.43 $5.43

0.37%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$1.73 $1.73

109.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.27 $1.27

89.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.07 $5.07

56.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$5.90 $5.90

50.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.45 $1.45

-26.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.67 $3.67

0.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.51 $4.51

-25.94%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$4.47 $4.47

-4.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$9.71 $9.71

33.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$8.90 $8.90

60.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$15.12 $15.12

10.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.47 $5.47

-17.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.00 $2.00

-29.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.23 $2.23

105.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.40 $4.40

6.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.75 $2.75

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 $2.18

18.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.96 $1.96

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$4.07 $4.07

-46.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$13.00 $13.00

-22.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$17.23 $17.23

-12.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.75 $2.75

6.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.93 $3.93

-16.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$3.54 $3.54

-56.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$35.64 $35.64

16.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.50 $1.50

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$0.92 $0.92

79.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.29 $1.29

-31.01%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.1K $37.1K

-1.86%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.1K $25.1K

7.79%

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

$223 $223

$205 $205

9.00%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$55.6 $55.6

3.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$53.2 $53.2

28.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$34.78 $34.78

88.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$13.06 $13.06

6.81%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$560 $560

171.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$12.5K $12.5K

70.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$79.1 $79.1

-32.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$34.95 $34.95

22.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$118 $118

-27.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$135 $135

-23.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,285 $1,285

51.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,206 $1,206

5.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,085 $2,085

80.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,078 $2,078

22.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,609 $2,609

175.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,607 $2,607

20.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$4,499 $4,499

10.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.35

1.89%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Visalia, CA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,285 in Visalia, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $98.0 in Visalia, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $402, with Visalia, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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 Visalia, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Visalia, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Visalia, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 10% 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 $1,285 in Visalia, 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 $2,493 in Visalia, CA – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Visalia, CA runs roughly 16% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,493 in Visalia, CA versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Visalia, CA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Visalia, 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 Visalia, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.