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

😐 Solo nomad: Carlsbad, CA is 4.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 36.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Carlsbad, CA is 5.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 22.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$19.64 $19.64
1.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3 $82.3
$76.2 $76.2
7.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 $11.92
$9.95 $9.95
19.80%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$5.61 $5.61
-10.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.64 $2.64
3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.19 $2.19
-10.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.8 $6.8
$5.84 $5.84
16.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$7.92 $7.92
-11.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.13 $1.13
-1.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.3 $3.3
24.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.5 $3.5
14.57%
Eggs
$5.65 $5.65
$4.4 $4.4
28.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.8 $10.8
$12 $12
-10.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.32 $8.32
$10.68 $10.68
-22.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.6 $14.6
$14.73 $14.73
-0.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.88 $4.88
-30.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.52 $1.52
13.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$4.53 $4.53
-37.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$3.92 $3.92
44.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.72 $2.72
34.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.76 $2.76
16.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.4 $1.4
$2.01 $2.01
-30.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.18 $2.18
-4.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 $10.95
$8.86 $8.86
23.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$14.96 $14.96
0.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.34 $2.34
-37.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.2 $1.2
$3.44 $3.44
-65.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.48 $1.48
70.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$178 $178
$42.82 $42.82
315.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.94 $9.94
$4.3 $4.3
131.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.82 $1.82
-6.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.91 $34.91
$34.63 $34.63
0.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.73 $0.73
69.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
-4.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-8.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 $241
$177 $177
36.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.27 $46.27
$58.9 $58.9
-21.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$64.8 $64.8
-7.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.4 $84.4
$62.6 $62.6
34.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.38 $32.38
$10.17 $10.17
218.39%
Cinema Ticket
$20.93 $20.93
$14.72 $14.72
42.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,187 $1,187
$1,378 $1,378
-13.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
3.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$56.3 $56.3
-5.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.3 $24.3
$46.46 $46.46
-47.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 $76.6
$86.7 $86.7
-11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 $84.8
$119 $119
-28.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,628 $2,628
$2,188 $2,188
20.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,220 $2,220
$1,395 $1,395
59.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,364 $4,364
$3,896 $3,896
12.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,508 $3,508
$2,689 $2,689
30.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,959 $6,959
$4,414 $4,414
57.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,253 $6,253
$3,161 $3,161
97.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carlsbad, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,553 $6,553
$4,871 $4,871
34.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.97
6.45
-7.44%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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