Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Foster City, CA and Austin, TX

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Foster City, CA is 2.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 50.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Foster City, CA is 13.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.05 $15.05
$19.64 $19.64
-23.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5 $69.5
$76.2 $76.2
-8.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.1 $11.1
$9.95 $9.95
11.56%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$5.61 $5.61
-11.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.64 $2.64
26.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.19 $2.19
14.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.2 $9.2
$5.84 $5.84
57.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.89 $10.89
$7.92 $7.92
37.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.13 $1.13
-7.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.3 $3.3
0.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.5 $3.5
-36.00%
Eggs
$3.06 $3.06
$4.4 $4.4
-30.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$12 $12
35.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$10.68 $10.68
5.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.13 $20.13
$14.73 $14.73
36.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$4.88 $4.88
27.25%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.52 $1.52
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$4.53 $4.53
4.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.92 $3.92
-17.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.72 $2.72
22.79%
Onion (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$2.76 $2.76
57.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.01 $2.01
50.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.18 $2.18
-33.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 $11.38
$8.86 $8.86
28.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.99 $11.99
$14.96 $14.96
-19.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.34 $2.34
-0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.44 $3.44
-3.78%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.48 $1.48
145.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$191 $191
$42.82 $42.82
345.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.3 $4.3
-17.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.82 $1.82
1.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.16 $30.16
$34.63 $34.63
-12.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.73 $0.73
75.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$25.5K $25.5K
17.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.73%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$270 $270
$177 $177
52.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.14 $49.14
$58.9 $58.9
-16.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$64.8 $64.8
6.32%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.62 $42.62
$62.6 $62.6
-31.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.35 $15.35
$14.72 $14.72
4.28%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$1,378 $1,378
43.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.4K $26.4K
$22.4K $22.4K
17.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.18 $46.18
$56.3 $56.3
-17.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.75 $29.75
$46.46 $46.46
-35.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.7 $65.7
$86.7 $86.7
-24.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.86 $49.86
$119 $119
-58.05%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,056 $3,056
$2,188 $2,188
39.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,558 $2,558
$1,395 $1,395
83.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,515 $4,515
$3,896 $3,896
15.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,522 $4,522
$2,689 $2,689
68.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$4,414 $4,414
144.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,784 $9,784
$3,161 $3,161
209.53%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Foster City, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,087 $7,087
$4,871 $4,871
45.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Foster City, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.