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 17.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 35.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Menlo Park, CA is 3.4% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 80% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.12 $30.12
$19.64 $19.64
53.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 $89.6
$76.2 $76.2
17.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$9.95 $9.95
21.21%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$5.61 $5.61
-15.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.64 $2.64
0.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.19 $2.19
-37.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 $8.11
$5.84 $5.84
38.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95 $7.95
$7.92 $7.92
0.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.13 $1.13
25.66%
White Bread (500g)
$4.81 $4.81
$3.3 $3.3
45.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.5 $3.5
-9.71%
Eggs
$6.82 $6.82
$4.4 $4.4
55.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 $10.96
$12 $12
-8.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$10.68 $10.68
5.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$14.73 $14.73
-13.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$4.88 $4.88
-2.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.52 $1.52
41.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.53 $4.53
-5.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.8 $4.8
$3.92 $3.92
22.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.72 $2.72
7.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.76 $2.76
26.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.01 $2.01
9.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.18 $2.18
26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67 $8.67
$8.86 $8.86
-2.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.93 $11.93
$14.96 $14.96
-20.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.34 $2.34
-28.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.44 $3.44
-31.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.42 $4.42
$1.48 $1.48
198.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.3 $4.3
-20.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.82 $1.82
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.94 $29.94
$34.63 $34.63
-13.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$0.73 $0.73
76.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$25.5K $25.5K
-6.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$245 $245
$177 $177
38.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.63 $39.63
$58.9 $58.9
-32.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$64.8 $64.8
11.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.14 $43.14
$62.6 $62.6
-31.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$14.72 $14.72
3.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,655 $2,655
$1,378 $1,378
92.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.2K $37.2K
$22.4K $22.4K
66.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$56.3 $56.3
-1.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$46.46 $46.46
-12.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90 $90
$86.7 $86.7
3.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$119 $119
-32.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,224 $3,224
$2,188 $2,188
47.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,226 $2,226
$1,395 $1,395
59.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,146 $6,146
$3,896 $3,896
57.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,628 $6,628
$2,689 $2,689
146.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.9K $21.9K
$4,414 $4,414
395.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.4K $16.4K
$3,161 $3,161
419.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Menlo Park, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,947 $4,947
$4,871 $4,871
1.57%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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