Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Palo Alto, CA and Austin, TX

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Palo Alto, CA is 46.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 81.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Palo Alto, CA is 47.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 77.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.92 $24.92
$19.64 $19.64
26.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111 $111
$76.2 $76.2
46.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.34 $11.34
$9.95 $9.95
13.97%
Cappuccino
$5.74 $5.74
$5.61 $5.61
2.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.64 $2.64
22.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.19 $2.19
15.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.14 $8.14
$5.84 $5.84
39.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.03 $10.03
$7.92 $7.92
26.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.13 $1.13
30.09%
White Bread (500g)
$4.99 $4.99
$3.3 $3.3
51.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$3.5 $3.5
-8.86%
Eggs
$6.16 $6.16
$4.4 $4.4
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.55 $21.55
$12 $12
79.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.78 $14.78
$10.68 $10.68
38.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.82 $22.82
$14.73 $14.73
54.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$4.88 $4.88
42.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.52 $1.52
68.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$4.53 $4.53
6.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$3.92 $3.92
72.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.72 $2.72
43.01%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$2.76 $2.76
58.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.01 $2.01
44.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.18 $2.18
31.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.11 $11.11
$8.86 $8.86
25.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.33 $18.33
$14.96 $14.96
22.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.34 $2.34
-2.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.44 $3.44
-2.62%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.48 $1.48
72.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.6 $89.6
$42.82 $42.82
109.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$4.3 $4.3
-4.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.82 $1.82
3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.51 $30.51
$34.63 $34.63
-11.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.73 $0.73
73.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
16.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
1.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$177 $177
27.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.97 $47.97
$58.9 $58.9
-18.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$64.8 $64.8
5.80%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 $120
$62.6 $62.6
92.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.88 $19.88
$10.17 $10.17
95.48%
Cinema Ticket
$15.78 $15.78
$14.72 $14.72
7.20%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,710 $2,710
$1,378 $1,378
96.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$45.7K $45.7K
$22.4K $22.4K
103.90%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$56.3 $56.3
-5.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.76 $44.76
$46.46 $46.46
-3.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$86.7 $86.7
3.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$119 $119
13.87%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,473 $3,473
$2,188 $2,188
58.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,227 $3,227
$1,395 $1,395
131.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,889 $5,889
$3,896 $3,896
51.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,757 $5,757
$2,689 $2,689
114.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,539 $2,539
$4,414 $4,414
-42.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,123 $2,123
$3,161 $3,161
-32.85%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Palo Alto, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$10K $10K
$4,871 $4,871
105.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Palo Alto, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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