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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,787 in Colton, CA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,027 in Colton, CA versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,266 in Colton, CA versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Colton, CA is roughly 3% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colton, CA 109% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.18 $18.18

$19.70 $19.70

-7.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$76.0 $76.0

5.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.55 $13.55

$9.86 $9.86

37.42%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$5.48 $5.48

-4.01%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$2.65 $2.65

14.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.09 $2.09

-2.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.35 $7.35

$6.09 $6.09

20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.15 $8.15

-0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.10 $1.10

5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.39 $3.39

15.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.38 $3.38

25.44%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$4.39 $4.39

3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$12.10 $12.10

-9.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.06 $16.06

$10.84 $10.84

48.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$14.68 $14.68

4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$4.96 $4.96

-8.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.51 $1.51

16.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.40 $4.40

20.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.10 $4.10

34.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.81 $2.81

13.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.87 $2.87

-1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.95 $1.95

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.18 $2.18

0.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.96 $10.96

$8.99 $8.99

21.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.27 $14.27

$15.11 $15.11

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.33 $2.33

9.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.43 $3.43

8.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.54 $1.54

31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.6 $78.6

$44.15 $44.15

78.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 $6.18

$4.41 $4.41

40.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.83 $1.83

-6.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.31 $29.31

$34.65 $34.65

-15.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.78 $0.78

60.26%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.42%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

13.76%

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

$270 $270

$175 $175

54.38%

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

$54.4 $54.4

$59.7 $59.7

-8.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$65.5 $65.5

-7.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.25 $42.25

$61.3 $61.3

-31.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$14.76 $14.76

3.52%

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

$1,190 $1,190

$1,372 $1,372

-13.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

6.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$56.5 $56.5

-1.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.89 $34.89

$45.29 $45.29

-22.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$85.0 $85.0

19.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$118 $118

-15.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$2,201 $2,201

-12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$1,403 $1,403

-4.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,655 $2,655

$3,815 $3,815

-30.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$2,680 $2,680

-17.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,926 $9,926

$7,133 $7,133

39.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,312 $8,312

$5,110 $5,110

62.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.45

2.02%

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

Last update for Colton, CA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,917 in Colton, CA and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colton, CA pays 63% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in Colton, CA vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $425 vs $379 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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

Colton, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Colton, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 63% higher in Colton, CA, 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: $1,917 in Colton, CA versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,787 per month in Colton, CA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 78% less than in Colton, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Colton, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.