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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,004 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,732 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,602 in Fairfield, CA versus $4,139 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,201 in Fairfield, CA versus $5,545 in Austin, TX.

Living in Fairfield, CA is roughly 47% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fairfield, CA 201% above, Austin, TX 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.59 $21.59

$19.47 $19.47

10.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$75.4 $75.4

6.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$9.89 $9.89

20.42%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$5.49 $5.49

-12.93%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$2.69 $2.69

6.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.13 $2.13

-7.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.61 $7.61

$5.91 $5.91

28.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.87 $7.87

-12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.15 $1.15

6.09%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.34 $3.34

22.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.48 $3.48

24.14%

Eggs

$5.36 $5.36

$4.42 $4.42

21.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 $13.57

$11.79 $11.79

15.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 $11.12

$10.65 $10.65

4.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.57 $17.57

$14.80 $14.80

18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.79 $4.79

68.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.57 $1.57

84.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.37 $4.37

33.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.58 $7.58

$4.01 $4.01

89.03%

Potato (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$2.71 $2.71

42.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.84 $2.84

34.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.03 $2.03

5.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.25 $2.25

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$8.78 $8.78

37.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$15.03 $15.03

-34.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.28 $2.28

-21.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.47 $3.47

-26.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.53 $1.53

27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.9 $87.9

$43.99 $43.99

99.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$4.30 $4.30

-30.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$35.23 $35.23

-16.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.73 $0.73

84.93%

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

$34.2K $34.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

32.24%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.5K $26.5K

3.26%

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

$225 $225

$172 $172

30.60%

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

$50.8 $50.8

$58.4 $58.4

-13.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$66.1 $66.1

10.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$63.6 $63.6

95.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$75.9 $75.9

$10.15 $10.15

647.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.17 $14.17

$15.05 $15.05

-5.85%

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

$1,900 $1,900

$1,399 $1,399

35.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.4K $20.4K

$22.0K $22.0K

-7.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 $57.9

$56.6 $56.6

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.75 $41.75

$46.66 $46.66

-10.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 $83.7

$86.4 $86.4

-3.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$119 $119

-8.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,516 $2,516

$2,228 $2,228

12.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,403 $2,403

$1,399 $1,399

71.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,253 $3,253

$3,821 $3,821

-14.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,648 $2,648

38.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,662 $3,662

$7,237 $7,237

-49.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,768 $3,768

$3,127 $3,127

20.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$5,009 $5,009

-2.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.45

1.09%

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

Last update for Fairfield, CA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,516 in Fairfield, CA and $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Fairfield, CA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $378 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Fairfield, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,516 in Fairfield, CA versus $2,228 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,004 per month in Fairfield, CA versus $2,732 in Austin, TX – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 100% less than in Fairfield, 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 47% less than in Fairfield, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.