Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Mesa, CA is 3.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 43.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Costa Mesa, CA is 7.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 23.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.64 $19.64

1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$76.2 $76.2

3.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.8 $11.8

$9.95 $9.95

18.59%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$5.61 $5.61

-5.17%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.64 $2.64

26.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.19 $2.19

1.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.84 $5.84

20.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.9 $7.9

$7.92 $7.92

-0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.13 $1.13

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.3 $3.3

23.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.5 $3.5

23.14%

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$4.4 $4.4

12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$12 $12

-12.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$10.68 $10.68

-20.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$14.73 $14.73

-3.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.88 $4.88

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.52 $1.52

28.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.53 $4.53

-0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.92 $3.92

39.80%

Potato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.72 $2.72

60.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.76 $2.76

3.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.01 $2.01

3.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.18 $2.18

-2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$8.86 $8.86

21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.46 $13.46

$14.96 $14.96

-10.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2 $2

$2.34 $2.34

-14.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.44 $3.44

-0.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.48 $1.48

37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.56 $6.56

$4.3 $4.3

52.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.82 $1.82

54.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.36 $29.36

$34.63 $34.63

-15.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.73 $0.73

71.23%

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

$24K $24K

$25.5K $25.5K

-5.81%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-6.55%

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

$291 $291

$177 $177

64.89%

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

$52.8 $52.8

$58.9 $58.9

-10.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$64.8 $64.8

-6.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.34 $39.34

$62.6 $62.6

-37.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$14.72 $14.72

1.29%

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

$1,206 $1,206

$1,378 $1,378

-12.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

6.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$56.3 $56.3

-1.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.5 $34.5

$46.46 $46.46

-25.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.3 $87.3

$86.7 $86.7

0.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$119 $119

-14.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,804 $2,804

$2,188 $2,188

28.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 $2,474

$1,395 $1,395

77.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,947 $3,947

$3,896 $3,896

1.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,689 $2,689

44.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,932 $2,932

$4,414 $4,414

-33.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,360 $2,360

$3,161 $3,161

-25.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,322 $6,322

$4,871 $4,871

29.79%

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 Costa Mesa, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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