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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,367 in Monterey, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,002 in Monterey, CA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,638 in Monterey, CA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Monterey, CA is roughly 27% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monterey, CA 151% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.76 $16.76

$19.63 $19.63

-14.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 $66.1

$75.1 $75.1

-11.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.31 $9.31

$9.92 $9.92

-6.15%

Cappuccino

$4.52 $4.52

$5.67 $5.67

-20.28%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.77 $2.77

10.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.17 $2.17

-24.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.84 $5.84

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$7.77 $7.77

-42.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.09 $1.09

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.41 $3.41

2.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.43 $3.43

25.66%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$4.39 $4.39

-8.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$11.95 $11.95

-20.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.82 $17.82

$10.76 $10.76

65.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 $13.99

$14.29 $14.29

-2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.84 $4.84

-19.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.55 $1.55

-26.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.46 $4.46

-44.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.91 $3.91

-43.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.74 $2.74

-28.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.74 $2.74

-21.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.04 $2.04

-10.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.25 $2.25

-15.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.07 $12.07

$8.93 $8.93

35.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.96 $16.96

$14.85 $14.85

14.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.35 $2.35

-7.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.57 $3.57

-31.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.47 $1.47

32.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 $53.8

$42.98 $42.98

25.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 $1.58

$4.28 $4.28

-63.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.84 $1.84

-51.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$35.54 $35.54

-16.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.72 $0.72

75.00%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

-6.57%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.10%

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

$185 $185

$174 $174

6.72%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$60.2 $60.2

-15.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 $60.0

$66.3 $66.3

-9.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.97 $42.97

$62.8 $62.8

-31.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.51 $10.51

$9.83 $9.83

6.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.67 $12.67

$15.24 $15.24

-16.86%

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

$552 $552

$1,387 $1,387

-60.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K $12.6K

$22.2K $22.2K

-43.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$56.7 $56.7

18.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 $122

$45.34 $45.34

168.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$86.5 $86.5

12.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$200 $200

$119 $119

68.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 $2,279

$2,247 $2,247

1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,961 $1,961

$1,430 $1,430

37.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,707 $3,707

$3,778 $3,778

-1.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,649 $3,649

$2,641 $2,641

38.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,928 $7,928

$7,044 $7,044

12.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,874 $5,874

$3,162 $3,162

85.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,296 $5,296

$5,108 $5,108

3.69%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,279 in Monterey, CA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monterey, CA pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Monterey, CA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $377, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Monterey, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Monterey, CA pays 4% 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: $2,279 in Monterey, CA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,367 per month in Monterey, CA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 25% less than in Monterey, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

Safety-wise, Monterey, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Monterey, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.