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: $4,121 in Foster City, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,886 in Foster City, CA versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,650 in Foster City, CA versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in Foster City, CA is roughly 52% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Foster City, CA 208% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$19.99 $19.99

-24.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 $70.9

$76.2 $76.2

-7.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 $10.87

$10.13 $10.13

7.31%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.49 $5.49

-6.92%

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

$3.23 $3.23

$2.72 $2.72

18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.14 $2.14

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.20 $9.20

$6.07 $6.07

51.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.83 $10.83

$8.04 $8.04

34.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 $1.09

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.34 $3.34

-2.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.42 $3.42

-34.80%

Eggs

$3.04 $3.04

$4.32 $4.32

-29.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$11.80 $11.80

41.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$10.68 $10.68

3.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.74 $19.74

$14.50 $14.50

36.14%

Apples (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$4.79 $4.79

28.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.50 $1.50

61.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.51 $4.51

10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.04 $4.04

-17.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.76 $2.76

18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.79 $2.79

59.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.04 $2.04

46.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.15 $2.15

-31.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.46 $11.46

$9.23 $9.23

24.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$14.81 $14.81

2.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.29 $2.29

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.53 $3.53

-3.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.52 $1.52

153.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$193 $193

$43.64 $43.64

343.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.29 $4.29

-20.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.82 $1.82

3.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.04 $30.04

$35.52 $35.52

-15.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.77 $0.77

71.43%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

18.50%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.93%

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

$275 $275

$172 $172

59.49%

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

$48.79 $48.79

$60.3 $60.3

-19.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$67.2 $67.2

3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.72 $43.72

$62.8 $62.8

-30.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$15.23 $15.23

$14.73 $14.73

3.39%

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

$1,969 $1,969

$1,398 $1,398

40.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.1K $26.1K

$21.8K $21.8K

19.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.14 $46.14

$55.1 $55.1

-16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.14 $30.14

$45.66 $45.66

-33.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 $66.2

$86.8 $86.8

-23.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.9 $50.9

$115 $115

-55.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,957 $2,957

$2,245 $2,245

31.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$1,401 $1,401

84.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,572 $4,572

$3,782 $3,782

20.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,444 $4,444

$2,708 $2,708

64.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$7,304 $7,304

-63.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,380 $2,380

$3,331 $3,331

-28.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,251 $7,251

$4,910 $4,910

47.66%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,957 in Foster City, CA and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Foster City, CA pays 48% 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: $71 in Foster City, CA vs $76 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $375, 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 52% 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 48% 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: $2,957 in Foster City, CA versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,121 per month in Foster City, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 343% 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 $2,719 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 52% less than in Foster City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.