Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lodi, CA: $2,557 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lodi, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,557
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lodi, CA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lodi, CA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,557 in Lodi, CA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Lodi, CA $2,557
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,759 in Lodi, CA versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Lodi, CA $3,759
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,962 in Lodi, CA versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Lodi, CA $4,962
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Lodi, CA costs roughly 5% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lodi, CA 89% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81 $19.81
$20.63 $20.63
-3.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 $73.7
$84.6 $84.6
-12.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.45 $11.45
$12.07 $12.07
-5.14%
Cappuccino
$5.34 $5.34
$5.48 $5.48
-2.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.80 $3.80
-28.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.47 $2.47
-20.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$8.05 $8.05
-24.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$8.88 $8.88
-19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.11 $1.11
-9.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.72 $3.72
-7.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.37 $3.37
28.49%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$4.32 $4.32
-2.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.34 $12.34
$13.13 $13.13
-6.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.31 $11.31
$14.15 $14.15
-20.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.34 $17.34
$16.33 $16.33
6.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.55 $4.55
9.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.46 $1.46
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.71 $4.71
-7.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$4.15 $4.15
14.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.58 $2.58
10.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$2.35 $2.35
29.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.77 $1.77
19.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.14 $2.14
4.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.19 $9.19
$10.10 $10.10
-9.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$15.19 $15.19
-3.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$2.82 $2.82
-29.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.44 $3.44
-2.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.54 $1.54
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.80 $2.80
4.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.60 $1.60
-6.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.90 $33.90
$34.34 $34.34
-1.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.94 $0.94
58.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$34.0K $34.0K
-17.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
-1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$223 $223
-11.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0 $59.0
$58.9 $58.9
0.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$70.6 $70.6
-0.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.36 $42.36
$57.7 $57.7
-26.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.69 $12.69
$14.26 $14.26
-11.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,264 $1,264
$1,511 $1,511
-16.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.6K $26.6K
$20.9K $20.9K
27.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 $52.6
$51.3 $51.3
2.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.02 $41.02
$44.17 $44.17
-7.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 $87.6
$87.0 $87.0
0.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$104 $104
0.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 $1,567
$1,940 $1,940
-19.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,298 $1,298
$1,316 $1,316
-1.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,550 $2,550
$3,664 $3,664
-30.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,187 $2,187
$2,565 $2,565
-14.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,770 $2,770
$7,354 $7,354
-62.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,369 $2,369
$3,129 $3,129
-24.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lodi, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,452 $4,452
$5,286 $5,286
-15.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.79
-2.50%

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

Last update for Lodi, CA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lodi, CA
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 1.4% $18
Groceries & Markets
Lodi, CA
$396
Austin, TX
$406 2.5% $9.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lodi, CA
$327
Austin, TX
$352 7.7% $25
Eating Out
Lodi, CA
$320
Austin, TX
$350 9.3% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Lodi, CA
$129
Austin, TX
$129 0.2% $0.3
Sport & Entertainment
Lodi, CA
$68
Austin, TX
$86 27.3% $18
Getting Around
Lodi, CA
$19 *
Austin, TX
$58 203% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,567 in Lodi, CA and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 19% 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: $74.0 in Lodi, CA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $406 per month, with Lodi, CA cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Lodi, CA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
01:09 1:09 AM
03:09 3:09 AM
2 h ahead of Lodi, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
66,348
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lodi, CA Austin, TX 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lodi, CA
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Lodi, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lodi, CA or Austin, TX?
Lodi, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lodi, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lodi, CA or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 19% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lodi, CA compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,567 in Lodi, CA versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lodi, CA and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,264 in Lodi, CA versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lodi, CA and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Lodi, CA – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lodi, CA or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Lodi, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Lodi, CA or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lodi, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lodi, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?