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

😐 Solo nomad: Berkeley, CA is 12.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 46.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Berkeley, CA is 32.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 37.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.11 $22.11
$19.64 $19.64
12.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.2 $76.2
31.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$9.95 $9.95
13.97%
Cappuccino
$5.96 $5.96
$5.61 $5.61
6.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.64 $2.64
23.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.19 $2.19
17.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.84 $5.84
33.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.18 $9.18
$7.92 $7.92
15.91%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.13 $1.13
33.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.84 $4.84
$3.3 $3.3
46.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$3.5 $3.5
82.86%
Eggs
$4.99 $4.99
$4.4 $4.4
13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.54 $21.54
$12 $12
79.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$10.68 $10.68
42.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.02 $23.02
$14.73 $14.73
56.28%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$4.88 $4.88
27.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.52 $1.52
76.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.94 $4.94
$4.53 $4.53
9.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$3.92 $3.92
77.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.72 $2.72
33.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$2.76 $2.76
44.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.01 $2.01
43.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.18 $2.18
26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23 $12.23
$8.86 $8.86
38.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.64 $17.64
$14.96 $14.96
17.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.34 $2.34
0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.44 $3.44
-5.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.48 $1.48
72.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.2 $86.2
$42.82 $42.82
101.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.3 $4.3
-16.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.82 $1.82
6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.55 $29.55
$34.63 $34.63
-14.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.73 $0.73
73.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
18.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$177 $177
24.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.14 $48.14
$58.9 $58.9
-18.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$64.8 $64.8
3.39%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 $69.7
$62.6 $62.6
11.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19 $7.19
$10.17 $10.17
-29.30%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 $15.54
$14.72 $14.72
5.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,142 $2,142
$1,378 $1,378
55.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.7K $31.7K
$22.4K $22.4K
41.46%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4 $67.4
$56.3 $56.3
19.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74 $46.74
$46.46 $46.46
0.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$86.7 $86.7
18.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$119 $119
24.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,253 $2,253
$2,188 $2,188
2.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,295 $2,295
$1,395 $1,395
64.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,750 $4,750
$3,896 $3,896
21.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,897 $3,897
$2,689 $2,689
44.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,092 $8,092
$4,414 $4,414
83.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,148 $8,148
$3,161 $3,161
157.75%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,617 $6,617
$4,871 $4,871
35.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

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

Last update for Berkeley, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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