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: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,399 in Visalia, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,680 in Visalia, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $4,962 in Visalia, CA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than Visalia, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$18.79 $18.79

3.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$100 $100

-25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.70 $9.70

2.27%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.20 $5.20

7.88%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$1.77 $1.77

48.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.26 $1.26

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.90 $4.90

20.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$7.88 $7.88

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.45 $1.45

-24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.60 $3.60

-4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.32 $3.32

0.30%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.81 $4.81

-9.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$9.85 $9.85

23.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$8.78 $8.78

19.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$15.01 $15.01

-2.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.52 $5.52

-13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.98 $1.98

-23.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.25 $2.25

104.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.49 $4.49

-9.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.15 $3.15

-12.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.16 $2.16

31.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.97 $1.97

-1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.87 $2.87

-21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$11.28 $11.28

-19.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$15.52 $15.52

-4.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.36 $2.36

-2.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.35 $3.35

1.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$3.51 $3.51

-56.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

$35.56 $35.56

24.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.40 $3.40

25.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.35 $2.35

-22.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$30.19 $30.19

14.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.24 $1.24

-36.29%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$30.2K $30.2K

-13.93%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

-1.98%

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

$174 $174

$202 $202

-13.67%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$48.55 $48.55

20.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$57.1 $57.1

17.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$35.10 $35.10

75.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$13.92 $13.92

9.84%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,946 $1,946

-29.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$53.0 $53.0

7.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$35.65 $35.65

30.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$86.3 $86.3

0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$134 $134

-13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,303 $1,303

69.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,183 $1,183

21.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,121 $2,121

78.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,134 $2,134

22.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$2,546 $2,546

182.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,586 $2,586

21.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$4,567 $4,567

9.36%

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 Visalia, CA: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,303 in Visalia, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 9% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $100 in Visalia, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $378 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 Visalia, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Visalia, 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 Visalia, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 9% more on average, 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,303 in Visalia, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,746 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,399 in Visalia, CA – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Visalia, CA runs roughly 24% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,399 in Visalia, CA versus $2,746 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 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.