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

😐 Solo nomad: Irvine, CA is 10.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 42.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Irvine, CA is 17.7% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 32.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.15 $25.15
$20.03 $20.03
25.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$75.7 $75.7
33.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 $10.09
$10.17 $10.17
-0.79%
Cappuccino
$5.71 $5.71
$5.78 $5.78
-1.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.65 $2.65
3.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.12 $2.12
-3.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.82 $7.82
$5.89 $5.89
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.60 $8.60
$8.04 $8.04
6.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.15 $1.15
4.35%
White Bread (500g)
$5.64 $5.64
$3.42 $3.42
64.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$3.43 $3.43
34.40%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.33 $4.33
5.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$11.79 $11.79
4.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.58 $11.58
$10.44 $10.44
10.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$14.57 $14.57
-1.03%
Apples (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$4.82 $4.82
34.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.57 $1.57
17.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.50 $4.50
-12.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$3.93 $3.93
35.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.71 $2.71
16.61%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.88 $2.88
6.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.97 $1.97
9.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.18 $2.18
-7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.66 $9.66
$9.11 $9.11
6.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$15.29 $15.29
-3.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.36 $2.36
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 $4.50
$3.56 $3.56
26.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.48 $1.48
37.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.0 $72.0
$43.25 $43.25
66.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.46 $4.46
-12.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.70 $2.70
$1.80 $1.80
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.30 $32.30
$34.81 $34.81
-7.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.79 $0.79
59.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K $28.6K
$25.8K $25.8K
10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.8K $26.8K
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 $199
$175 $175
14.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8 $53.8
$58.4 $58.4
-7.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 $72.3
$66.9 $66.9
8.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 $54.2
$62.2 $62.2
-12.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.40 $13.40
$10.10 $10.10
32.67%
Cinema Ticket
$13.98 $13.98
$14.84 $14.84
-5.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,854 $1,854
$1,385 $1,385
33.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.9K $40.9K
$21.7K $21.7K
88.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3 $69.3
$56.0 $56.0
23.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.18 $40.18
$46.16 $46.16
-12.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 $76.4
$87.1 $87.1
-12.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$116 $116
36.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,211 $2,211
21.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,386 $2,386
$1,435 $1,435
66.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,541 $4,541
$3,833 $3,833
18.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,839 $3,839
$2,695 $2,695
42.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,341 $8,341
$7,347 $7,347
13.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,122 $8,122
$3,180 $3,180
155.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,866 $5,866
$4,945 $4,945
18.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.45
3.72%

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

Last update for Irvine, CA: March 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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