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

😐 Solo nomad: Salinas, CA is 11.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 40.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Salinas, CA is 10% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 32.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.69 $29.69

$19.64 $19.64

51.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.1 $89.1

$76.2 $76.2

16.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.95 $9.95

21.01%

Cappuccino

$4.9 $4.9

$5.61 $5.61

-12.66%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$2.64 $2.64

0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.19 $2.19

-2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 $7.86

$5.84 $5.84

34.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$7.92 $7.92

-1.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.13 $1.13

29.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.3 $3.3

7.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$3.5 $3.5

81.71%

Eggs

$5.55 $5.55

$4.4 $4.4

26.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21 $21

$12 $12

75.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.68 $10.68

23.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.74 $16.74

$14.73 $14.73

13.65%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$4.88 $4.88

22.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.52 $1.52

42.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.53 $4.53

-21.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$3.92 $3.92

54.59%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.72 $2.72

64.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.76 $2.76

22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.01 $2.01

7.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.18 $2.18

-14.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.09 $11.09

$8.86 $8.86

25.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.96 $14.96

-31.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.34 $2.34

-28.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.44 $3.44

55.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.48 $1.48

31.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 $68.8

$42.82 $42.82

60.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$4.3 $4.3

-19.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.82 $1.82

3.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.24 $40.24

$34.63 $34.63

16.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.73 $0.73

79.45%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

-5.10%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.05%

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

$277 $277

$177 $177

57.13%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$58.9 $58.9

-9.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$64.8 $64.8

11.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.6 $39.6

$62.6 $62.6

-36.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.31 $14.31

$14.72 $14.72

-2.79%

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

$1,968 $1,968

$1,378 $1,378

42.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.3K $38.3K

$22.4K $22.4K

71.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$56.3 $56.3

-0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.8 $37.8

$46.46 $46.46

-18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 $92.3

$86.7 $86.7

6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$119 $119

6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$2,188 $2,188

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$1,395 $1,395

55.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,186 $4,186

$3,896 $3,896

7.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,806 $3,806

$2,689 $2,689

41.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,778 $2,778

$4,414 $4,414

-37.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,415 $2,415

$3,161 $3,161

-23.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,905 $4,905

$4,871 $4,871

0.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.41

6.45

-0.62%

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

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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