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

🙂 Solo nomad: Monterey, CA is 8.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Monterey, CA is 7.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 21.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.22 $16.22

$19.64 $19.64

-17.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$76.2 $76.2

-14.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.95 $9.95

-5.03%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$5.61 $5.61

-20.14%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.64 $2.64

19.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.19 $2.19

-25.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.84 $5.84

0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$7.92 $7.92

-43.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.13 $1.13

18.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.3 $3.3

3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.5 $3.5

24.86%

Eggs

$4 $4

$4.4 $4.4

-9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.38 $9.38

$12 $12

-21.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.66 $17.66

$10.68 $10.68

65.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 $14.04

$14.73 $14.73

-4.68%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$4.88 $4.88

-21.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.52 $1.52

-24.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.53 $4.53

-45.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.92 $3.92

-43.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.72 $2.72

-29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.76 $2.76

-19.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.01 $2.01

-8.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.18 $2.18

-11.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.16 $12.16

$8.86 $8.86

37.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.28 $17.28

$14.96 $14.96

15.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.34 $2.34

-5.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.44 $3.44

-29.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.48 $1.48

37.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53 $53

$42.82 $42.82

23.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$4.3 $4.3

-63.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.82 $1.82

-51.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.75 $28.75

$34.63 $34.63

-16.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.73 $0.73

67.12%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

-4.92%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-8.02%

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

$188 $188

$177 $177

6.27%

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

$51.7 $51.7

$58.9 $58.9

-12.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$64.8 $64.8

-4.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.27 $43.27

$62.6 $62.6

-30.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.52 $10.52

$10.17 $10.17

3.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.3 $12.3

$14.72 $14.72

-16.44%

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

$570 $570

$1,378 $1,378

-58.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$22.4K $22.4K

-43.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 $68.4

$56.3 $56.3

21.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$119 $119

$46.46 $46.46

155.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.5 $98.5

$86.7 $86.7

13.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$202 $202

$119 $119

69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,323 $2,323

$2,188 $2,188

6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,004 $2,004

$1,395 $1,395

43.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,623 $3,623

$3,896 $3,896

-7.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,689 $2,689

36.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,809 $7,809

$4,414 $4,414

76.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,920 $5,920

$3,161 $3,161

87.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,380 $4,380

$4,871 $4,871

-10.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.45

-0.78%

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

Last update for Monterey, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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