Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Walnut Creek, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Walnut Creek, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,364 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $5,009 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $6,654 in Walnut Creek, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 21% less than in Walnut Creek, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Walnut Creek, CA 151% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$22.22 $22.22

-11.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$98.2 $98.2

-23.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.37 $14.37

-30.97%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.27 $5.27

7.59%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.13 $3.13

-11.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.05 $2.05

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$8.17 $8.17

-28.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$9.24 $9.24

-15.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.41 $1.41

-22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.86 $4.86

-29.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.08 $4.08

-15.93%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$5.40 $5.40

-18.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$5.47 $5.47

118.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$6.66 $6.66

61.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$6.63 $6.63

115.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.41 $4.41

9.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.96 $1.96

-20.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$6.43 $6.43

-30.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.24 $5.24

-25.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.22 $2.22

23.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.24 $3.24

-15.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.19 $2.19

-6.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.92 $2.92

-22.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.97 $10.97

-18.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.91 $11.91

24.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.24 $2.24

59.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$6.16 $6.16

-76.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.48 $3.48

22.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.92 $1.92

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$39.93 $39.93

-10.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.25 $1.25

-42.40%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.2K $30.2K

-14.91%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.4K $27.4K

-4.69%

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

$174 $174

$331 $331

-47.61%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.2 $52.2

15.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$71.3 $71.3

-7.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$86.6 $86.6

-27.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

$15.09 $15.09

-34.86%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.69 $14.69

3.74%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$2,233 $2,233

-37.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$37.5K $37.5K

-40.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$62.8 $62.8

-9.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$60.9 $60.9

-25.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$90.3 $90.3

-4.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$126 $126

-5.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,323 $2,323

-3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,962 $1,962

-27.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$4,430 $4,430

-14.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$3,518 $3,518

-24.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$6,481 $6,481

-51.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$6,879 $6,879

-25.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Walnut Creek, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,323 in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Walnut Creek, CA pays 35% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $98.0 in Walnut Creek, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $350, with Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Walnut Creek, CA earns 35% less. 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $2,323 in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $2,233 in Walnut Creek, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $98.0 in Walnut Creek, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Walnut Creek, 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 26% less than in Walnut Creek, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.