Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Lake Forest, CA is 7.3% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Lake Forest, CA is 13.1% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 13.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.57 $24.57

$19.64 $19.64

25.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$76.2 $76.2

31.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 $10.11

$9.95 $9.95

1.61%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.61 $5.61

5.35%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.64 $2.64

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.19 $2.19

2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.48 $8.48

$5.84 $5.84

45.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.92 $7.92

11.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.13 $1.13

9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.3 $3.3

29.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.5 $3.5

31.71%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.4 $4.4

1.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$12 $12

3.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$10.68 $10.68

59.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$14.73 $14.73

30.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$4.88 $4.88

34.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.9 $1.9

$1.52 $1.52

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.53 $4.53

-8.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.92 $3.92

38.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.72 $2.72

18.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.76 $2.76

11.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.01 $2.01

-4.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.18 $2.18

-2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.75 $9.75

$8.86 $8.86

10.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.65 $19.65

$14.96 $14.96

31.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.34 $2.34

-24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.44 $3.44

13.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.48 $1.48

131.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$4.3 $4.3

-29.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.82 $1.82

47.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.53 $29.53

$34.63 $34.63

-14.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.73 $0.73

76.71%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$25.5K $25.5K

11.83%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.78%

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

$202 $202

$177 $177

14.69%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$58.9 $58.9

-7.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$64.8 $64.8

10.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51 $51

$62.6 $62.6

-18.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$17.17 $17.17

$14.72 $14.72

16.64%

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

$1,823 $1,823

$1,378 $1,378

32.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

7.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$56.3 $56.3

10.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.13 $41.13

$46.46 $46.46

-11.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$86.7 $86.7

19.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$119 $119

25.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,433 $1,433

$2,188 $2,188

-34.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$1,395 $1,395

7.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,096 $3,096

$3,896 $3,896

-20.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,805 $2,805

$2,689 $2,689

4.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,100 $8,100

$4,414 $4,414

83.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,128 $7,128

$3,161 $3,161

125.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,899 $6,899

$4,871 $4,871

41.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.45

0.62%

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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