Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between California, MD and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,577 in California, MD versus $2,678 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,773 in California, MD versus $4,116 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,969 in California, MD versus $5,554 in Austin, TX.

Living in California, MD costs roughly 4% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: California, MD 93% above, Austin, TX 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 $8.94

$20.06 $20.06

-55.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.5 $78.5

$75.1 $75.1

4.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.13 $10.13

-2.07%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.50 $5.50

3.82%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$2.69 $2.69

5.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.18 $2.18

8.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.84 $5.84

-5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$7.77 $7.77

-12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.09 $1.09

-14.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.38 $3.38

-4.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$3.41 $3.41

-36.36%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.41 $4.41

10.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 $13.26

$12.20 $12.20

8.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.22 $10.22

$10.44 $10.44

-2.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$14.56 $14.56

-25.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.85 $4.85

-6.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.58 $1.58

10.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$4.41 $4.41

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.70 $6.70

$4.00 $4.00

67.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.82 $2.82

20.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.72 $2.72

2.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.97 $1.97

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.18 $2.18

-5.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 $9.03

$8.94 $8.94

1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 $14.25

$14.97 $14.97

-4.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.52 $3.52

45.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.48 $1.48

41.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.3 $82.3

$42.98 $42.98

91.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.33 $4.33

-6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.74 $1.74

-22.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.60 $29.60

$34.35 $34.35

-13.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.79 $0.79

8.86%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

11.47%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

-9.51%

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

$212 $212

$176 $176

19.95%

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

$42.66 $42.66

$59.8 $59.8

-28.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$66.2 $66.2

4.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.72 $39.72

$62.1 $62.1

-36.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.92 $10.92

$9.80 $9.80

11.43%

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$15.16 $15.16

-1.72%

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

$2,197 $2,197

$1,406 $1,406

56.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$22.0K $22.0K

10.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$55.1 $55.1

-4.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$45.69 $45.69

2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$85.9 $85.9

10.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$118 $118

13.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,714 $1,714

$2,177 $2,177

-21.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 $1,332

$1,403 $1,403

-5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,424 $2,424

$3,782 $3,782

-35.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,141 $2,141

$2,683 $2,683

-20.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,816 $6,816

$7,379 $7,379

-7.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 $6,284

$3,297 $3,297

90.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,909 $6,909

$4,898 $4,898

41.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.45

0.47%

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

Last update for California, MD: May 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,714 in California, MD and $2,177 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

California, MD pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in California, MD vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $373 vs $377, with California, MD 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

California, MD vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

California, MD wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making California, MD the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

California, MD pays 41% 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: $1,714 in California, MD versus $2,177 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,577 per month in California, MD versus $2,678 in Austin, TX – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in California, MD runs roughly 91% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. California, MD 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.

Expats usually find California, MD gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.