Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Menlo Park, CA is 13.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 34.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Menlo Park, CA is 19.1% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 73.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.02 $30.02
$20.03 $20.03
49.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.4 $90.4
$75.7 $75.7
19.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.91 $11.91
$10.17 $10.17
17.11%
Cappuccino
$4.74 $4.74
$5.78 $5.78
-17.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.65 $2.65
-2.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 $1.29
$2.12 $2.12
-39.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.17 $8.17
$5.89 $5.89
38.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.11 $8.11
$8.04 $8.04
0.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.15 $1.15
26.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.65 $4.65
$3.42 $3.42
35.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.43 $3.43
-7.29%
Eggs
$6.60 $6.60
$4.33 $4.33
52.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.83 $10.83
$11.79 $11.79
-8.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.22 $11.22
$10.44 $10.44
7.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 $12.62
$14.57 $14.57
-13.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$4.82 $4.82
-2.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.57 $1.57
36.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.50 $4.50
-0.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$3.93 $3.93
28.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.71 $2.71
11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.88 $2.88
14.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.97 $1.97
12.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.18 $2.18
25.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.60 $8.60
$9.11 $9.11
-5.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.81 $11.81
$15.29 $15.29
-22.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.36 $2.36
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$3.56 $3.56
-32.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.63 $4.63
$1.48 $1.48
212.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$43.25 $43.25
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$4.46 $4.46
-23.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.80 $1.80
7.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.48 $30.48
$34.81 $34.81
-12.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$0.79 $0.79
64.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K $24.3K
$25.8K $25.8K
-6.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
-1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$254 $254
$175 $175
45.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.68 $38.68
$58.4 $58.4
-33.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$66.9 $66.9
4.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.53 $42.53
$62.2 $62.2
-31.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.10 $10.10
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$14.84 $14.84
-0.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,676 $2,676
$1,385 $1,385
93.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.3K $38.3K
$21.7K $21.7K
76.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 $55.4
$56.0 $56.0
-1.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.10 $40.10
$46.16 $46.16
-13.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 $90.6
$87.1 $87.1
3.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2 $79.2
$116 $116
-31.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,121 $3,121
$2,211 $2,211
41.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,259 $2,259
$1,435 $1,435
57.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,155 $6,155
$3,833 $3,833
60.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,444 $6,444
$2,695 $2,695
139.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.9K $21.9K
$7,347 $7,347
198.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$15.9K $15.9K
$3,180 $3,180
400.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,982 $4,982
$4,945 $4,945
0.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.45
1.55%

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

Last update for Menlo Park, 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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