Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and Austin, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and in Austin, TX: $2,626 and $2,698 a month, rent and utilities included.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,626
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,626 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA $2,626
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,888 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA $3,888
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,149 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA $5,149
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA costs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 94% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.78 $19.78
$20.63 $20.63
-4.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3 $77.3
$84.6 $84.6
-8.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.07 $12.07
23.28%
Cappuccino
$5.90 $5.90
$5.48 $5.48
7.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.80 $3.80
-16.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 $2.40
$2.47 $2.47
-2.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.06 $7.06
$8.05 $8.05
-12.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37 $9.37
$8.88 $8.88
5.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.11 $1.11
19.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.72 $3.72
17.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$3.37 $3.37
42.43%
Eggs
$4.71 $4.71
$4.32 $4.32
9.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 $12.92
$13.13 $13.13
-1.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.48 $14.48
$14.15 $14.15
2.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.31 $15.31
$16.33 $16.33
-6.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.07 $5.07
$4.55 $4.55
11.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.46 $1.46
17.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$4.71 $4.71
-12.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$4.15 $4.15
36.14%
Potato (1kg)
$3.63 $3.63
$2.58 $2.58
40.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.35 $2.35
-1.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.77 $1.77
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.14 $2.14
-14.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.68 $11.68
$10.10 $10.10
15.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$15.19 $15.19
-1.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.82 $2.82
-31.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 $4.21
$3.44 $3.44
22.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.54 $1.54
24.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.34 $6.34
$2.80 $2.80
126.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.60 $1.60
23.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.26 $29.26
$34.34 $34.34
-14.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 $1.57
$0.94 $0.94
67.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$34.0K $34.0K
-14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$223 $223
-3.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$58.9 $58.9
14.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$70.6 $70.6
-16.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.81 $43.81
$57.7 $57.7
-24.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 $14.92
$14.26 $14.26
4.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,880 $1,880
$1,511 $1,511
24.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.8K $26.8K
$20.9K $20.9K
28.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 $58.0
$51.3 $51.3
13.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.17 $40.17
$44.17 $44.17
-9.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$87.0 $87.0
5.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$104 $104
0.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 $1,592
$1,940 $1,940
-17.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 $1,279
$1,316 $1,316
-2.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,558 $2,558
$3,664 $3,664
-30.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,183 $2,183
$2,565 $2,565
-14.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,715 $2,715
$7,354 $7,354
-63.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,045 $2,045
$3,129 $3,129
-34.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$10.0K $10.0K
$5,286 $5,286
89.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
6.79
-7.07%

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

Last update for Rancho Palos Verdes, CA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 2.9% $37
Groceries & Markets
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$426
Austin, TX
$406 4.8% $20
Eating Out
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$350
Austin, TX
$350 0% $0.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$341
Austin, TX
$352 3.2% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$132
Austin, TX
$129 2.6% $3.4
Sport & Entertainment
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$74
Austin, TX
$86 17.1% $13
Getting Around
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$24 *
Austin, TX
$58 143% $34

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA pays 90% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $77.0 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $426 vs $406, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
15:38 3:38 PM
17:38 5:38 PM
2 h ahead of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
41,754
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Austin, TX 1,980 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA or Austin, TX?
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rancho Palos Verdes, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA or in Austin, TX?
Average pay runs 90% higher in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,592 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,880 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA – a meal for two runs $77.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA or Austin, 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.
How safe is Rancho Palos Verdes, CA compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Rancho Palos Verdes, 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rancho Palos Verdes, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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