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 13.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 40.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Irvine, CA is 13.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.57 $24.57
$19.50 $19.50
26.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.3 $75.3
32.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.90 $9.90
$9.88 $9.88
0.20%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$5.74 $5.74
-4.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.78 $2.78
-3.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.13 $2.13
-4.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.13 $8.13
$6.11 $6.11
33.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$7.86 $7.86
12.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.09 $1.09
10.09%
White Bread (500g)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.44 $3.44
59.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$3.31 $3.31
42.90%
Eggs
$4.48 $4.48
$4.29 $4.29
4.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 $12.25
$11.98 $11.98
2.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$10.74 $10.74
7.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.26 $14.26
$14.79 $14.79
-3.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6.37 $6.37
$5.00 $5.00
27.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.49 $1.49
24.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.43 $4.43
-10.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.60 $5.60
$3.95 $3.95
41.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.75 $2.75
18.91%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.73 $2.73
12.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.04 $2.04
1.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.26 $2.26
-10.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90 $9.90
$9.09 $9.09
8.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.92 $14.92
$14.99 $14.99
-0.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.54 $3.54
34.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.49 $1.49
34.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.4 $71.4
$44.05 $44.05
61.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$4.47 $4.47
-8.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.76 $1.76
60.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.36 $32.36
$34.44 $34.44
-6.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$0.74 $0.74
75.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$25.6K $25.6K
11.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.7K $26.7K
0.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$172 $172
18.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$59.3 $59.3
-10.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$66.5 $66.5
8.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.6 $53.6
$63.1 $63.1
-15.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.42 $13.42
$10.17 $10.17
31.96%
Cinema Ticket
$14.23 $14.23
$15.28 $15.28
-6.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,860 $1,860
$1,406 $1,406
32.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.9K $39.9K
$22.0K $22.0K
81.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 $69.8
$56.4 $56.4
23.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.37 $41.37
$45.72 $45.72
-9.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 $78.2
$86.0 $86.0
-9.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$118 $118
34.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 $2,747
$2,196 $2,196
25.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,350 $2,350
$1,434 $1,434
63.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,592 $4,592
$3,878 $3,878
18.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,866 $3,866
$2,610 $2,610
48.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,252 $8,252
$7,228 $7,228
14.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,051 $8,051
$3,282 $3,282
145.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irvine, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,829 $5,829
$4,984 $4,984
16.95%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

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

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