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 25% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 41.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Berkeley, CA is 27.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 35.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.36 $22.36
$19.50 $19.50
14.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.7 $98.7
$75.3 $75.3
30.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.57 $11.57
$9.88 $9.88
17.11%
Cappuccino
$5.69 $5.69
$5.74 $5.74
-0.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.78 $2.78
19.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.13 $2.13
19.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.91 $7.91
$6.11 $6.11
29.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.78 $8.78
$7.86 $7.86
11.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.09 $1.09
39.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.79 $4.79
$3.44 $3.44
39.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$3.31 $3.31
90.63%
Eggs
$4.81 $4.81
$4.29 $4.29
12.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.47 $21.47
$11.98 $11.98
79.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.07 $15.07
$10.74 $10.74
40.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.11 $23.11
$14.79 $14.79
56.25%
Apples (1kg)
$6.25 $6.25
$5.00 $5.00
25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.49 $1.49
75.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.43 $4.43
12.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.00 $7.00
$3.95 $3.95
77.22%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.75 $2.75
31.27%
Onion (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$2.73 $2.73
44.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.04 $2.04
42.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.26 $2.26
22.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.21 $12.21
$9.09 $9.09
34.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.89 $12.89
$14.99 $14.99
-14.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.35 $2.35
-4.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.54 $3.54
-6.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.49 $1.49
70.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.8 $85.8
$44.05 $44.05
94.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.47 $4.47
-23.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.76 $1.76
6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.37 $30.37
$34.44 $34.44
-11.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.74 $0.74
81.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$25.6K $25.6K
17.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.7K $26.7K
1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$172 $172
28.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.30 $48.30
$59.3 $59.3
-18.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2 $68.2
$66.5 $66.5
2.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.3 $69.3
$63.1 $63.1
9.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.15 $7.15
$10.17 $10.17
-29.70%
Cinema Ticket
$15.41 $15.41
$15.28 $15.28
0.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,197 $2,197
$1,406 $1,406
56.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.7K $31.7K
$22.0K $22.0K
44.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7 $68.7
$56.4 $56.4
21.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.40 $45.40
$45.72 $45.72
-0.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$86.0 $86.0
19.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$118 $118
25.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,274 $2,274
$2,196 $2,196
3.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,254 $2,254
$1,434 $1,434
57.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,632 $4,632
$3,878 $3,878
19.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,966 $3,966
$2,610 $2,610
51.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,947 $7,947
$7,228 $7,228
9.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,111 $8,111
$3,282 $3,282
147.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Berkeley, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,677 $6,677
$4,984 $4,984
33.96%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

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

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