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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,072 in Foster City, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,903 in Foster City, CA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,735 in Foster City, CA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Foster City, CA is roughly 53% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Foster City, CA 204% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 $15.18

$19.63 $19.63

-22.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 $70.3

$75.1 $75.1

-6.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.92 $9.92

11.90%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$5.67 $5.67

-14.29%

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

$3.24 $3.24

$2.77 $2.77

16.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.17 $2.17

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.03 $9.03

$5.84 $5.84

54.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.88 $10.88

$7.77 $7.77

40.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.09 $1.09

-4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.41 $3.41

-4.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.43 $3.43

-34.69%

Eggs

$3.07 $3.07

$4.39 $4.39

-30.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.20 $16.20

$11.95 $11.95

35.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 $11.12

$10.76 $10.76

3.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.87 $19.87

$14.29 $14.29

39.05%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.84 $4.84

29.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.55 $1.55

60.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$4.46 $4.46

10.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.91 $3.91

-17.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.74 $2.74

23.36%

Onion (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.74 $2.74

59.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.04 $2.04

45.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.25 $2.25

-34.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.03 $11.03

$8.93 $8.93

23.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$14.85 $14.85

2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.35 $2.35

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.57 $3.57

-7.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.76 $3.76

$1.47 $1.47

155.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$189 $189

$42.98 $42.98

339.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.28 $4.28

-19.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.84 $1.84

4.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$35.54 $35.54

-16.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.72 $0.72

77.78%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

15.55%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.15%

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

$273 $273

$174 $174

57.28%

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

$48.73 $48.73

$60.2 $60.2

-19.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$66.3 $66.3

3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.22 $43.22

$62.8 $62.8

-31.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.39 $15.39

$15.24 $15.24

0.98%

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

$1,999 $1,999

$1,387 $1,387

44.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.4K $26.4K

$22.2K $22.2K

19.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.07 $47.07

$56.7 $56.7

-17.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.21 $30.21

$45.34 $45.34

-33.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.0 $67.0

$86.5 $86.5

-22.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.1 $50.1

$119 $119

-57.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,964 $2,964

$2,247 $2,247

31.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,430 $1,430

82.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,456 $4,456

$3,778 $3,778

17.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,440 $4,440

$2,641 $2,641

68.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$7,044 $7,044

52.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,680 $9,680

$3,162 $3,162

206.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,068 $7,068

$5,108 $5,108

38.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Foster City, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,964 in Foster City, CA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Foster City, CA pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Foster City, CA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $377, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Foster City, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Foster City, CA pays 38% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,964 in Foster City, CA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,072 per month in Foster City, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 340% less than in Foster City, 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,659 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Foster City, CA and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Foster City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.