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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chico, CA is 12% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chico, CA is 9.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.21 $25.21
$19.64 $19.64
28.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 $60.6
$76.2 $76.2
-20.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.02 $13.02
$9.95 $9.95
30.85%
Cappuccino
$5.81 $5.81
$5.61 $5.61
3.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.64 $2.64
-5.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.19 $2.19
0.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.84 $5.84
19.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.68 $8.68
$7.92 $7.92
9.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.13 $1.13
20.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.3 $3.3
10.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.5 $3.5
0.57%
Eggs
$5.55 $5.55
$4.4 $4.4
26.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$12 $12
8.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.62 $10.62
$10.68 $10.68
-0.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.68 $16.68
$14.73 $14.73
13.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.88 $4.88
13.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.52 $1.52
40.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$4.53 $4.53
-17.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$3.92 $3.92
38.01%
Potato (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$2.72 $2.72
69.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.76 $2.76
21.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.01 $2.01
10.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97 $7.97
$8.86 $8.86
-10.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.17 $12.17
$14.96 $14.96
-18.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.34 $2.34
-27.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38 $5.38
$3.44 $3.44
56.40%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.48 $1.48
105.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.5 $34.5
$42.82 $42.82
-19.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.3 $4.3
-20.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.82 $1.82
10.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.27 $39.27
$34.63 $34.63
13.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$0.73 $0.73
65.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
-8.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-3.95%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$177 $177
9.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53 $53
$58.9 $58.9
-10.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$64.8 $64.8
10.29%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 $60.5
$62.6 $62.6
-3.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.1 $14.1
$14.72 $14.72
-4.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,864 $1,864
$1,378 $1,378
35.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.6K $37.6K
$22.4K $22.4K
68.08%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 $59.4
$56.3 $56.3
5.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.47 $31.47
$46.46 $46.46
-32.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 $77.2
$86.7 $86.7
-10.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 $95.2
$119 $119
-19.90%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,437 $1,437
$2,188 $2,188
-34.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 $1,221
$1,395 $1,395
-12.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,784 $2,784
$3,896 $3,896
-28.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,227 $2,227
$2,689 $2,689
-17.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,340 $3,340
$4,414 $4,414
-24.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,057 $3,057
$3,161 $3,161
-3.30%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chico, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,981 $3,981
$4,871 $4,871
-18.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.45
1.55%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chico, CA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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