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 5.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 42.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Costa Mesa, CA is 3.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 25.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.30 $20.30

$20.03 $20.03

1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$75.7 $75.7

5.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.05 $12.05

$10.17 $10.17

18.49%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.78 $5.78

-8.82%

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

$3.28 $3.28

$2.65 $2.65

23.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.12 $2.12

9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.18 $7.18

$5.89 $5.89

21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.04 $8.04

0.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.42 $3.42

15.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.43 $3.43

27.41%

Eggs

$5.07 $5.07

$4.33 $4.33

17.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 $10.52

$11.79 $11.79

-10.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 $8.78

$10.44 $10.44

-15.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.22 $14.22

$14.57 $14.57

-2.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.82 $4.82

-6.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.57 $1.57

20.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.50 $4.50

-0.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$3.93 $3.93

47.07%

Potato (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.71 $2.71

65.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.88 $2.88

3.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.97 $1.97

2.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.18 $2.18

-0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 $11.03

$9.11 $9.11

21.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.29 $15.29

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.36 $2.36

-15.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.56 $3.56

-1.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.48 $1.48

38.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.25 $43.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 $6.73

$4.46 $4.46

50.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.80 $1.80

57.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.71 $28.71

$34.81 $34.81

-17.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.79 $0.79

62.03%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

-7.41%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-10.69%

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

$284 $284

$175 $175

62.82%

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

$52.0 $52.0

$58.4 $58.4

-10.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 $61.2

$66.9 $66.9

-8.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.07 $40.07

$62.2 $62.2

-35.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.10 $10.10

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$14.84 $14.84

1.48%

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

$1,220 $1,220

$1,385 $1,385

-11.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$21.7K $21.7K

9.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$56.0 $56.0

-1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.96 $34.96

$46.16 $46.16

-24.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 $88.0

$87.1 $87.1

1.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$116 $116

-10.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,845 $2,845

$2,211 $2,211

28.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,457 $2,457

$1,435 $1,435

71.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,954 $3,954

$3,833 $3,833

3.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,836 $3,836

$2,695 $2,695

42.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,347 $7,347

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,180 $3,180

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,265 $6,265

$4,945 $4,945

26.69%

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: February 28, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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