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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Riverside, CA is 6.8% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 14.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Riverside, CA is 3.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 1.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.25 $20.25
$19.64 $19.64
3.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.9 $83.9
$76.2 $76.2
9.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 $11.77
$9.95 $9.95
18.29%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.61 $5.61
-11.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.64 $2.64
1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.19 $2.19
-10.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 $6.91
$5.84 $5.84
18.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 $7.2
$7.92 $7.92
-9.09%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.13 $1.13
-5.31%
White Bread (500g)
$4 $4
$3.3 $3.3
21.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$3.5 $3.5
15.14%
Eggs
$6.99 $6.99
$4.4 $4.4
58.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.84 $10.84
$12 $12
-9.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 $8.97
$10.68 $10.68
-16.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.39 $14.39
$14.73 $14.73
-2.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.88 $4.88
-29.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.52 $1.52
28.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.53 $4.53
-11.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.6 $5.6
$3.92 $3.92
42.86%
Potato (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.72 $2.72
61.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.76 $2.76
18.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.41 $1.41
$2.01 $2.01
-29.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.18 $2.18
0.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83 $10.83
$8.86 $8.86
22.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.15 $9.15
$14.96 $14.96
-38.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.34 $2.34
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.8 $5.8
$3.44 $3.44
68.60%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.48 $1.48
16.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.6 $59.6
$42.82 $42.82
39.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.05 $10.05
$4.3 $4.3
133.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.82 $1.82
142.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.5 $29.5
$34.63 $34.63
-14.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.73 $0.73
68.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$25.5K $25.5K
-5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
-6.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$286 $286
$177 $177
62.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.35 $47.35
$58.9 $58.9
-19.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$64.8 $64.8
-8.24%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.04 $35.04
$62.6 $62.6
-44.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.02 $20.02
$10.17 $10.17
96.85%
Cinema Ticket
$14.07 $14.07
$14.72 $14.72
-4.42%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,215 $1,215
$1,378 $1,378
-11.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$22.4K $22.4K
3.15%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$56.3 $56.3
0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.87 $34.87
$46.46 $46.46
-24.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.6 $85.6
$86.7 $86.7
-1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.3 $85.3
$119 $119
-28.28%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 $2,086
$2,188 $2,188
-4.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 $1,671
$1,395 $1,395
19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,239 $3,239
$3,896 $3,896
-16.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,485 $2,485
$2,689 $2,689
-7.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 $3,995
$4,414 $4,414
-9.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,071 $4,071
$3,161 $3,161
28.80%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Riverside, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,751 $3,751
$4,871 $4,871
-23.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.45
2.02%

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

Last update for Riverside, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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