Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Clemente, CA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $3,426 in San Clemente, CA, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

168

Cost of Living Index in San Clemente, CA
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San Clemente, CA Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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San Clemente, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,426

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,426 in San Clemente, CA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

San Clemente, CA $3,426
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,328 in San Clemente, CA versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

San Clemente, CA $5,328
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,230 in San Clemente, CA versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

San Clemente, CA $7,230
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in San Clemente, CA is roughly 29% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Clemente, CA 154% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.27 $25.27

$20.77 $20.77

21.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$84.6 $84.6

17.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.31 $12.31

$12.32 $12.32

-0.08%

Cappuccino

$5.80 $5.80

$5.63 $5.63

3.02%

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

$3.14 $3.14

$3.72 $3.72

-15.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.50 $2.50

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.05 $8.05

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.56 $9.56

$9.01 $9.01

6.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.12 $1.12

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.75 $3.75

17.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$3.26 $3.26

45.40%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$4.17 $4.17

-4.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.46 $16.46

$12.90 $12.90

27.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.88 $13.88

$14.16 $14.16

-1.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.72 $18.72

$16.22 $16.22

15.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.33 $4.33

9.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.46 $1.46

30.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.51 $4.51

-4.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.34 $4.34

11.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.58 $2.58

22.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.35 $2.35

10.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.78 $1.78

21.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.22 $2.22

-6.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.43 $7.43

$9.88 $9.88

-24.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.58 $15.58

$15.08 $15.08

3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.92 $2.92

-23.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$3.46 $3.46

-10.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.49 $1.49

87.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.53 $46.53

$41.72 $41.72

11.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.73 $2.73

11.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.66 $1.66

27.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$35.30 $35.30

-22.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.95 $0.95

32.63%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$36.0K $36.0K

-22.18%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.1K $27.1K

-3.72%

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

$247 $247

$229 $229

7.75%

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

$74.7 $74.7

$59.4 $59.4

25.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.9 $84.9

$69.9 $69.9

21.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.29 $44.29

$57.2 $57.2

-22.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.63 $17.63

$16.33 $16.33

7.96%

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.28 $14.28

6.72%

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

$986 $986

$1,506 $1,506

-34.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$21.5K $21.5K

65.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 $67.1

$52.8 $52.8

27.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.46 $29.46

$43.82 $43.82

-32.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$84.8 $84.8

4.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$103 $103

39.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,340 $2,340

$1,907 $1,907

22.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,897 $1,897

$1,274 $1,274

48.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,044 $4,044

$3,664 $3,664

10.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,813 $3,813

$2,538 $2,538

50.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,394 $6,394

$7,614 $7,614

-16.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,293 $3,293

$3,157 $3,157

4.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,980 $3,980

$5,121 $5,121

-22.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.19

6.79

-8.84%

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

Last update for San Clemente, CA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

San Clemente, CA

$1.9K 55.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 32.8% $623

Groceries & Markets

San Clemente, CA

$438 12.8%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 7.6% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Clemente, CA

$406 11.9%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 11.8% $48

Eating Out

San Clemente, CA

$391 11.4%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 9.5% $37

Clothing & Footwear

San Clemente, CA

$148 4.3%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 13.5% $20

Sport & Entertainment

San Clemente, CA

$75 2.2%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 14.7% $11

Getting Around

San Clemente, CA

$71 2.1%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 17.8% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,340 in San Clemente, CA and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in San Clemente, CA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $438 vs $405 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 San Clemente, CA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

18:37 6:37 PM

20:37 8:37 PM

2 h ahead of San Clemente, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

65,526

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

San Clemente, CA Austin, TX 1,910 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

San Clemente, 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

San Clemente, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in San Clemente, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,340 in San Clemente, CA versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,426 per month in San Clemente, CA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 12% less than in San Clemente, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, San Clemente, 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in San Clemente, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.