Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Hollywood, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and West Hollywood, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,203 in West Hollywood, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $5,100 in West Hollywood, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $6,998 in West Hollywood, CA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 17% less than in West Hollywood, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, West Hollywood, CA 139% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.17 $20.17

-2.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$99.0 $99.0

-24.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.12 $14.12

-29.75%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.79 $5.79

-2.07%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.72 $2.72

1.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.94 $1.94

11.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$8.65 $8.65

-32.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$10.09 $10.09

-22.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.15 $1.15

-5.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.12 $4.12

-17.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.05 $5.05

-32.08%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.87 $6.87

-36.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.71 $10.71

11.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$16.88 $16.88

-36.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$19.20 $19.20

-25.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.52 $3.52

37.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.96 $1.96

-20.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.09 $4.09

9.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.77 $4.77

-18.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.94 $2.94

-6.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.45 $1.45

40.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.24 $2.24

0.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.78 $11.78

-24.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.86 $14.86

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.55 $2.55

-7.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.19 $3.19

11.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.01 $2.01

-26.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.07 $3.07

39.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.72 $1.72

6.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.80 $28.80

23.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.28 $1.28

-43.75%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.7K $23.7K

8.57%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.10%

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

$174 $174

$180 $180

-3.52%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$45.99 $45.99

30.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$71.5 $71.5

-7.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.25 $42.25

48.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$17.94 $17.94

-15.05%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,221 $1,221

13.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

-6.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$61.3 $61.3

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$35.31 $35.31

28.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$89.5 $89.5

-3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$149 $149

-20.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$2,888 $2,888

-22.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,800 $1,800

-20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$6,077 $6,077

-37.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$3,987 $3,987

-33.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,719 $2,719

159.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,664 $2,664

18.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$6,562 $6,562

-22.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for West Hollywood, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $2,888 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Hollywood, CA pays 28% 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 $99.0 in West Hollywood, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $440 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 West Hollywood, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in West Hollywood, 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, West Hollywood, CA earns 28% 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 $2,888 in West Hollywood, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,221 in West Hollywood, 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 $99.0 in West Hollywood, 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,659 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 West Hollywood, 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 20% less than in West Hollywood, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.