Cost of Living Comparison Between Laguna Niguel, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Laguna Niguel, CA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,220 in Laguna Niguel, CA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,491 in Laguna Niguel, CA versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,762 in Laguna Niguel, CA versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Laguna Niguel, CA is roughly 57% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Laguna Niguel, CA 207% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$19.82 $19.82

24.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$83.9 $83.9

20.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.85 $13.85

$12.30 $12.30

12.60%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.48 $5.48

5.47%

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

$3.03 $3.03

$3.72 $3.72

-18.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.36 $2.36

-14.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.76 $7.76

1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.74 $8.74

$9.14 $9.14

-4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.13 $1.13

16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.70 $5.70

$3.75 $3.75

52.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.43 $3.43

39.65%

Eggs

$5.09 $5.09

$4.35 $4.35

17.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$13.14 $13.14

31.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$14.39 $14.39

-7.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.30 $20.30

$17.20 $17.20

18.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.49 $4.49

19.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.44 $1.44

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.67 $4.67

-4.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$4.97 $4.97

28.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.00 $3.00

9.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.69 $2.69

-0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.85 $1.85

23.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.18 $2.18

-2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.74 $11.74

$9.45 $9.45

24.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.43 $16.43

$15.11 $15.11

8.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.89 $2.89

-39.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.49 $3.49

-10.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 $65.1

$40.44 $40.44

61.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.81 $2.81

6.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.58 $1.58

16.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.18 $28.18

$35.18 $35.18

-19.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.90 $0.90

68.89%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$35.9K $35.9K

1.85%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-6.27%

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

$253 $253

$222 $222

13.82%

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

$72.2 $72.2

$58.3 $58.3

23.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.2 $86.2

$69.1 $69.1

24.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.6 $91.6

$66.2 $66.2

38.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$16.78 $16.78

$13.78 $13.78

21.77%

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

$1,929 $1,929

$1,526 $1,526

26.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K $36.2K

$21.2K $21.2K

70.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.4 $70.4

$54.6 $54.6

29.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.43 $41.43

$44.01 $44.01

-5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$89.7 $89.7

30.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 $151

$109 $109

39.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,887 $2,887

$1,942 $1,942

48.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,258 $1,258

101.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,427 $4,427

$3,762 $3,762

17.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,947 $2,947

$2,592 $2,592

13.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,055 $5,055

$5,085 $5,085

-0.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.44

-4.19%

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

Last update for Laguna Niguel, CA: August 29, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,887 in Laguna Niguel, CA and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Laguna Niguel, CA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $474 vs $417 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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

Laguna Niguel, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Laguna Niguel, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,887 in Laguna Niguel, CA versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,220 per month in Laguna Niguel, CA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 61% less than in Laguna Niguel, 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 $2,695 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Laguna Niguel, 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 57% less than in Laguna Niguel, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.