Cost of Living Comparison Between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,577 in Paso Robles, CA versus $2,766 in McKinney, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,132 in Paso Robles, CA versus $3,648 in McKinney, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,687 in Paso Robles, CA versus $4,530 in McKinney, TX.

Living in Paso Robles, CA costs roughly 7% less than in McKinney, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paso Robles, CA 88% above, McKinney, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.03 $22.03

$18.63 $18.63

18.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$60.9 $60.9

61.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 $11.26

$10.78 $10.78

4.45%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$5.13 $5.13

1.36%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$2.22 $2.22

14.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.78 $1.78

-13.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.91 $5.91

34.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 $6.12

$8.56 $8.56

-28.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.99 $0.99

59.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.73 $2.73

-19.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.26 $2.26

53.54%

Eggs

$3.33 $3.33

$3.84 $3.84

-13.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

$10.43 $10.43

49.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$11.03 $11.03

-51.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 $8.74

$16.56 $16.56

-47.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.15 $3.15

1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.51 $1.51

-25.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.90 $2.90

-22.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.55 $2.55

22.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.15 $2.15

-34.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.05 $2.05

-20.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.71 $1.71

36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.37 $2.37

-38.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.60 $11.60

$10.93 $10.93

6.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 $14.66

$11.93 $11.93

22.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.92 $1.92

27.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.09 $3.09

9.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.56 $5.56

$3.08 $3.08

80.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 $67.9

$190 $190

-64.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.70 $2.70

32.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.21 $1.21

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.67 $29.67

$29.96 $29.96

-0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.85 $0.85

52.94%

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

$37.1K $37.1K

$35.3K $35.3K

5.31%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.20%

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

$272 $272

$163 $163

66.80%

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

$47.68 $47.68

$71.7 $71.7

-33.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$69.1 $69.1

-7.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.70 $41.70

$30.55 $30.55

36.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.88 $9.88

$12.92 $12.92

-23.53%

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 $11.88

$11.97 $11.97

-0.75%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,577 $1,577

15.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.3K $40.3K

$23.8K $23.8K

69.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$53.0 $53.0

-5.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.79 $34.79

$28.90 $28.90

20.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 $81.5

$95.1 $95.1

-14.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$59.2 $59.2

89.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,113 $2,113

$1,681 $1,681

25.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 $1,309

$1,414 $1,414

-7.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,500 $3,500

$2,636 $2,636

32.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,705 $1,705

62.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,333 $6,333

$2,298 $2,298

175.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,432 $6,432

$2,365 $2,365

171.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,968 $2,968

$5,637 $5,637

-47.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.04

2.15%

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

Last update for Paso Robles, CA: September 12, 2026

Last update for McKinney, TX: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,113 in Paso Robles, CA and $1,681 in McKinney, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McKinney, TX pays 90% 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: $99.0 in Paso Robles, CA vs $61.0 in McKinney, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $332, with Paso Robles, CA 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

Paso Robles, CA vs McKinney, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($2,577 vs $2,766 including rent). Paso Robles, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 90% lower in McKinney, TX. 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: $2,113 in Paso Robles, CA versus $1,681 in McKinney, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,577 per month in Paso Robles, CA versus $2,766 in McKinney, TX – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Paso Robles, CA runs roughly 180% less than in McKinney, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Paso Robles, 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.

Safety-wise, Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, 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 Paso Robles, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in McKinney, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.