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: $2,629 in Paso Robles, CA versus $2,636 in McKinney, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,179 in Paso Robles, CA versus $3,689 in McKinney, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,728 in Paso Robles, CA versus $4,743 in McKinney, TX.

Monthly costs are close between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Paso Robles, CA 96% above, McKinney, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.82 $22.82
$16.79 $16.79
35.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$73.7 $73.7
10.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$9.23 $9.23
9.53%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$5.17 $5.17
4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.63 $2.63
-7.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.98 $1.98
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.07 $6.07
17.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 $6.15
$8.09 $8.09
-23.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.09 $1.09
29.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.74 $2.74
-20.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$3.99 $3.99
-46.12%
Eggs
$3.93 $3.93
$5.12 $5.12
-23.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.63 $15.63
$11.45 $11.45
36.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$14.10 $14.10
-60.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.25 $12.25
$16.28 $16.28
-24.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$4.47 $4.47
-33.11%
Banana (1kg)
$0.69 $0.69
$1.56 $1.56
-55.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$4.09 $4.09
-45.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$4.43 $4.43
-49.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$3.58 $3.58
-70.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.19 $2.19
-50.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.12 $2.12
18.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$3.03 $3.03
-49.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.08 $14.08
$9.51 $9.51
48.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.70 $14.70
$11.31 $11.31
29.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.93 $1.93
7.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.97 $2.97
-5.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.54 $5.54
$2.04 $2.04
171.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.6 $68.6
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 $5.81
$2.77 $2.77
109.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.27 $1.27
54.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.7 $50.7
$30.49 $30.49
66.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$0.81 $0.81
60.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$29.5K $29.5K
19.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K $31.9K
$26.3K $26.3K
21.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$310 $310
$184 $184
68.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.85 $46.85
$60.8 $60.8
-22.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2 $66.2
$79.1 $79.1
-16.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 $52.0
$34.46 $34.46
50.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83 $9.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.01 $12.01
$14.91 $14.91
-19.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$1,354 $1,354
-2.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$23.0K $23.0K
1.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 $51.0
$54.5 $54.5
-6.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.27 $34.27
$28.25 $28.25
21.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 $81.4
$101 $101
-19.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$112 $112
-1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,092 $2,092
$1,696 $1,696
23.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 $1,292
$1,381 $1,381
-6.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,493 $3,493
$3,253 $3,253
7.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,801 $2,801
$1,970 $1,970
42.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,444 $6,444
$2,289 $2,289
181.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,294 $6,294
$2,300 $2,300
173.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paso Robles, CA
McKinney, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,012 $3,012
$5,640 $5,640
-46.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
6.49
2.16%

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

Last update for Paso Robles, CA: June 2, 2026

Last update for McKinney, TX: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,092 in Paso Robles, CA and $1,696 in McKinney, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McKinney, TX pays 87% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $81.0 in Paso Robles, CA vs $74.0 in McKinney, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $290 vs $397, 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
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, McKinney, TX earns 87% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,092 in Paso Robles, CA versus $1,696 in McKinney, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX?
Childcare runs $1,319 in Paso Robles, CA versus $1,354 in McKinney, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in McKinney, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 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.
How does quality of life compare between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX?
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.
Is Paso Robles, CA or McKinney, TX safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Paso Robles, CA and McKinney, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Paso Robles, CA wins on affordability, McKinney, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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