Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Redding, CA: $2,347 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Redding, CA, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Redding, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,347
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Redding, 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 Redding, CA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,347 in Redding, CA versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

  • Redding, CA $2,347
  • Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,370 in Redding, CA versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

  • Redding, CA $3,370
  • Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,394 in Redding, CA versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

  • Redding, CA $4,394
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Redding, CA costs roughly 10% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Redding, CA 72% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.82 $14.82
$20.35 $20.35
-27.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 $60.7
$84.7 $84.7
-28.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 $11.96
$12.12 $12.12
-1.32%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$5.65 $5.65
-6.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.68 $3.68
-32.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.36 $2.36
-17.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 $5.87
$7.87 $7.87
-25.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 $4.98
$8.82 $8.82
-43.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.14 $1.14
-2.63%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.69 $3.69
11.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.31 $3.31
-2.72%
Eggs
$4.08 $4.08
$4.15 $4.15
-1.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.76 $11.76
$12.98 $12.98
-9.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$13.86 $13.86
18.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.74 $18.74
$16.34 $16.34
14.69%
Apples (1kg)
$6.02 $6.02
$4.69 $4.69
28.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.45 $1.45
13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$5.11 $5.11
-46.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.55 $5.55
$4.52 $4.52
22.79%
Potato (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.08 $3.08
28.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.38 $2.38
26.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 $2.59
$1.80 $1.80
43.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.22 $2.22
-39.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.94 $11.94
$9.97 $9.97
19.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.58 $10.58
$15.05 $15.05
-29.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.91 $2.91
-40.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 $3.63
$3.33 $3.33
9.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.22 $1.22
63.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.6 $50.6
$40.53 $40.53
24.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.78 $2.78
15.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.65 $1.65
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.15 $40.15
$35.39 $35.39
13.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.95 $0.95
61.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$34.2K $34.2K
-20.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.8K $26.8K
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 $191
$223 $223
-14.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.1 $59.1
$58.5 $58.5
1.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$71.2 $71.2
-3.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.26 $47.26
$53.0 $53.0
-10.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.75 $16.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.95 $10.95
$14.06 $14.06
-22.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,527 $2,527
$1,459 $1,459
73.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.6K $37.6K
$21.3K $21.3K
76.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.6 $64.6
$52.5 $52.5
23.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.84 $32.84
$42.75 $42.75
-23.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 $91.8
$86.4 $86.4
6.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$104 $104
94.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,377 $1,377
$2,112 $2,112
-34.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 $1,018
$1,230 $1,230
-17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,876 $1,876
$3,863 $3,863
-51.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 $1,513
$2,407 $2,407
-37.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,028 $3,028
$7,426 $7,426
-59.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,561 $2,561
$3,060 $3,060
-16.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redding, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,672 $3,672
$5,179 $5,179
-29.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
6.82
-1.76%

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

Last update for Redding, CA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Redding, CA
$1K
Austin, TX
$1.2K 20.9% $212
Groceries & Markets
Redding, CA
$416
Austin, TX
$410 1.4% $5.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redding, CA
$319
Austin, TX
$353 10.6% $34
Eating Out
Redding, CA
$275
Austin, TX
$348 26.6% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Redding, CA
$176
Austin, TX
$128 27% $47
Getting Around
Redding, CA
$74
Austin, TX
$56 23.6% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Redding, CA
$69
Austin, TX
$81 17.4% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,377 in Redding, CA and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $61 in Redding, CA vs $85 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $416 vs $410, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Redding, CA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
13:32 1:32 PM
15:32 3:32 PM
2 h ahead of Redding, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
91,582
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Redding, CA Austin, TX 2,500 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Redding, 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
Redding, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Redding, CA or Austin, TX?
Redding, CA wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Redding, CA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Redding, CA or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Redding, CA. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Redding, CA compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,377 in Redding, CA versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Redding, CA and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $2,527 in Redding, CA versus $1,459 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 Redding, CA and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Redding, CA – a meal for two runs $61 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Redding, 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.
Should I move to Redding, CA or to Austin, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Redding, CA wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Redding, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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