Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: El Cajon, CA is 1.7% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 20.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Cajon, CA is 5.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 27.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.68 $19.68
$19.64 $19.64
0.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.6 $79.6
$76.2 $76.2
4.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.09 $15.09
$9.95 $9.95
51.66%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.61 $5.61
-7.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.64 $2.64
14.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.19 $2.19
16.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$5.84 $5.84
22.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$7.92 $7.92
1.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.13 $1.13
2.65%
White Bread (500g)
$4.3 $4.3
$3.3 $3.3
30.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.5 $3.5
26.86%
Eggs
$3.9 $3.9
$4.4 $4.4
-11.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.55 $13.55
$12 $12
12.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.95 $15.95
$10.68 $10.68
49.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$14.73 $14.73
6.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$4.88 $4.88
-9.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.52 $1.52
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$4.53 $4.53
-13.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$3.92 $3.92
21.68%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.72 $2.72
13.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.76 $2.76
-14.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.01 $2.01
4.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.18 $2.18
8.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.06 $12.06
$8.86 $8.86
36.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$14.96 $14.96
2.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.34 $2.34
-22.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.44 $3.44
-25.87%
🚌 Getting Around
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.48 $1.48
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$4.3 $4.3
-32.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.82 $1.82
-5.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.43 $28.43
$34.63 $34.63
-17.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$0.73 $0.73
71.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
-0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K $27.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
4.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 $155
$177 $177
-12.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$58.9 $58.9
-6.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 $71.1
$64.8 $64.8
9.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.44 $43.44
$62.6 $62.6
-30.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$14.72 $14.72
3.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$1,378 $1,378
8.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$22.4K $22.4K
29.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.79 $46.79
$56.3 $56.3
-16.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.14 $33.14
$46.46 $46.46
-28.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 $99.6
$86.7 $86.7
14.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 $101
$119 $119
-15.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,428 $2,428
$2,188 $2,188
10.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,939 $1,939
$1,395 $1,395
38.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,953 $2,953
$3,896 $3,896
-24.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,029 $4,029
$2,689 $2,689
49.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,755 $2,755
$4,414 $4,414
-37.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,148 $2,148
$3,161 $3,161
-32.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Cajon, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,070 $4,070
$4,871 $4,871
-16.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.45
-0.93%

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

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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