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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,650 in Modesto, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,106 in Modesto, CA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,561 in Modesto, CA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs are close between Modesto, CA and Austin, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Modesto, CA 98% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.10 $15.10

$19.63 $19.63

-23.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 $80.4

$75.1 $75.1

7.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.92 $9.92

-10.89%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.67 $5.67

-0.18%

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

$2.68 $2.68

$2.77 $2.77

-3.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.17 $2.17

-23.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.84 $5.84

-14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.77 $7.77

-7.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.09 $1.09

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.41 $3.41

5.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.43 $3.43

-8.16%

Eggs

$4.99 $4.99

$4.39 $4.39

13.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 $12.86

$11.95 $11.95

7.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.62 $14.62

$10.76 $10.76

35.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.50 $19.50

$14.29 $14.29

36.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$4.84 $4.84

29.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.55 $1.55

62.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.46 $4.46

11.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.91 $3.91

66.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.74 $2.74

30.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.74 $2.74

55.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.04 $2.04

48.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.25 $2.25

24.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$8.93 $8.93

13.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.85 $14.85

2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.35 $2.35

-18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.57 $3.57

-4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.47 $1.47

38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.22 $40.22

$42.98 $42.98

-6.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.28 $4.28

-16.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.84 $1.84

13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.40 $30.40

$35.54 $35.54

-14.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.72 $0.72

73.61%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

6.30%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.87%

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

$287 $287

$174 $174

65.56%

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

$49.26 $49.26

$60.2 $60.2

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.0 $63.0

$66.3 $66.3

-4.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.92 $41.92

$62.8 $62.8

-33.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.83 $9.83

52.09%

Cinema Ticket

$11.07 $11.07

$15.24 $15.24

-27.36%

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

$1,952 $1,952

$1,387 $1,387

40.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.2K $22.2K

16.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.56 $47.56

$56.7 $56.7

-16.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.84 $39.84

$45.34 $45.34

-12.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$86.5 $86.5

3.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$119 $119

8.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 $1,429

$2,247 $2,247

-36.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,261 $1,261

$1,430 $1,430

-11.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,426 $2,426

$3,778 $3,778

-35.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,401 $2,401

$2,641 $2,641

-9.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,192 $3,192

$7,044 $7,044

-54.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,184 $3,184

$3,162 $3,162

0.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,035 $4,035

$5,108 $5,108

-21.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Modesto, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,429 in Modesto, CA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 27% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $80.0 in Modesto, CA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $377 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

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

On paper, Austin, TX earns 27% less. 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: $1,429 in Modesto, CA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,952 in Modesto, CA versus $1,387 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Modesto, CA – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Modesto, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Modesto, CA wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.