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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 13.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 47.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 17.1% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 37.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.33 $23.33
$20.03 $20.03
16.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.7 $75.7
32.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.83 $14.83
$10.17 $10.17
45.82%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.78 $5.78
1.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.65 $2.65
12.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.12 $2.12
22.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 $8.09
$5.89 $5.89
37.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.02 $9.02
$8.04 $8.04
12.19%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.15 $1.15
6.09%
White Bread (500g)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.42 $3.42
31.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$3.43 $3.43
26.82%
Eggs
$5.29 $5.29
$4.33 $4.33
22.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$11.79 $11.79
16.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.58 $12.58
$10.44 $10.44
20.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.75 $18.75
$14.57 $14.57
28.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$4.82 $4.82
-4.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.57 $1.57
5.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$4.50 $4.50
-13.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$3.93 $3.93
21.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.71 $2.71
7.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.88 $2.88
-13.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.97 $1.97
11.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.18 $2.18
13.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.96 $11.96
$9.11 $9.11
31.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$15.29 $15.29
-0.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.36 $2.36
-25.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.56 $3.56
-30.90%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.48 $1.48
68.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.6 $71.6
$43.25 $43.25
65.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$4.46 $4.46
-30.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.80 $1.80
10.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.44 $28.44
$34.81 $34.81
-18.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.79 $0.79
56.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$25.8K $25.8K
18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$26.8K $26.8K
1.70%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$175 $175
56.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$58.4 $58.4
18.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6 $78.6
$66.9 $66.9
17.47%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.1 $67.1
$62.2 $62.2
7.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.53 $24.53
$10.10 $10.10
142.87%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99 $15.99
$14.84 $14.84
7.75%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$1,385 $1,385
16.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.7K $21.7K
31.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 $58.4
$56.0 $56.0
4.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 $58.4
$46.16 $46.16
26.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 $99.3
$87.1 $87.1
13.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$116 $116
0.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 $2,812
$2,211 $2,211
27.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,356 $2,356
$1,435 $1,435
64.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,894 $4,894
$3,833 $3,833
27.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,099 $4,099
$2,695 $2,695
52.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,662 $8,662
$7,347 $7,347
17.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,713 $6,713
$3,180 $3,180
111.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 $5,594
$4,945 $4,945
13.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.45
-0.93%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: March 3, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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