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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,535 in Monrovia, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,580 in Monrovia, CA versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,626 in Monrovia, CA versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in Monrovia, CA costs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monrovia, CA 89% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.05 $15.05

$19.99 $19.99

-24.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.42 $34.42

$76.2 $76.2

-54.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$10.13 $10.13

-0.79%

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$5.49 $5.49

-11.48%

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

$1.98 $1.98

$2.72 $2.72

-27.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.14 $2.14

-3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.16 $8.16

$6.07 $6.07

34.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.03 $9.03

$8.04 $8.04

12.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

White Bread (500g)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.34 $3.34

68.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.42 $3.42

32.46%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.32 $4.32

5.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$11.80 $11.80

-5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$10.68 $10.68

-58.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$14.50 $14.50

1.86%

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.79 $4.79

31.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.50 $1.50

23.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$4.51 $4.51

-50.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$4.04 $4.04

-44.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.76 $2.76

-18.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.79 $2.79

-22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.04 $2.04

-0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.15 $2.15

-52.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 $9.65

$9.23 $9.23

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.82 $9.82

$14.81 $14.81

-33.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.29 $2.29

-26.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.53 $3.53

32.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.52 $1.52

29.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.13 $20.13

$43.64 $43.64

-53.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.29 $4.29

-7.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.82 $1.82

53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.16 $32.16

$35.52 $35.52

-9.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.77 $0.77

67.53%

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

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

-13.36%

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

$21.8K $21.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

-17.04%

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

$198 $198

$172 $172

14.93%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$60.3 $60.3

-11.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 $50.8

$67.2 $67.2

-24.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.04 $43.04

$62.8 $62.8

-31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$14.73 $14.73

-6.59%

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

$1,859 $1,859

$1,398 $1,398

32.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.4K $40.4K

$21.8K $21.8K

85.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.09 $15.09

$55.1 $55.1

-72.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.90 $40.90

$45.66 $45.66

-10.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$86.8 $86.8

-11.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$115 $115

35.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,619 $1,619

$2,245 $2,245

-27.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,336 $1,336

$1,401 $1,401

-4.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,633 $2,633

$3,782 $3,782

-30.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 $2,180

$2,708 $2,708

-19.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,317 $2,317

$7,304 $7,304

-68.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,388 $2,388

$3,331 $3,331

-28.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,051 $6,051

$4,910 $4,910

23.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.45

3.72%

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

Last update for Monrovia, CA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Monrovia, CA and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monrovia, CA pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34 in Monrovia, CA vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $375 per month, with Monrovia, CA 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

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

Monrovia, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monrovia, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Monrovia, CA pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,619 in Monrovia, CA versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,535 per month in Monrovia, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Monrovia, CA runs roughly 117% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,535 in Monrovia, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Monrovia, CA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Monrovia, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Monrovia, CA and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Monrovia, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.