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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Francisco, CA is 32.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 66% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Francisco, CA is 41.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 55.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.25 $25.25
$20.03 $20.03
26.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130 $130
$75.7 $75.7
71.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.86 $14.86
$10.17 $10.17
46.12%
Cappuccino
$5.99 $5.99
$5.78 $5.78
3.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.65 $2.65
22.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.12 $2.12
15.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.14 $8.14
$5.89 $5.89
38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90 $7.90
$8.04 $8.04
-1.74%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.15 $1.15
33.04%
White Bread (500g)
$5.04 $5.04
$3.42 $3.42
47.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.82 $6.82
$3.43 $3.43
98.83%
Eggs
$5.95 $5.95
$4.33 $4.33
37.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.51 $23.51
$11.79 $11.79
99.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.84 $14.84
$10.44 $10.44
42.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.69 $23.69
$14.57 $14.57
62.59%
Apples (1kg)
$7.13 $7.13
$4.82 $4.82
47.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.57 $1.57
78.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$4.50 $4.50
17.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.67 $7.67
$3.93 $3.93
95.17%
Potato (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$2.71 $2.71
36.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$2.88 $2.88
38.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.97 $1.97
42.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.18 $2.18
29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.73 $13.73
$9.11 $9.11
50.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 $17.87
$15.29 $15.29
16.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.36 $2.36
10.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.56 $3.56
-6.46%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.48 $1.48
104.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.3 $96.3
$43.25 $43.25
122.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 $4.04
$4.46 $4.46
-9.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.80 $1.80
13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.32 $39.32
$34.81 $34.81
12.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$0.79 $0.79
67.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$25.8K $25.8K
35.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.8K $26.8K
-4.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$175 $175
27.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.4 $63.4
$58.4 $58.4
8.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$66.9 $66.9
2.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.4 $98.4
$62.2 $62.2
58.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.73 $12.73
$10.10 $10.10
26.04%
Cinema Ticket
$16.82 $16.82
$14.84 $14.84
13.34%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,197 $3,197
$1,385 $1,385
130.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.1K $38.1K
$21.7K $21.7K
75.52%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$56.0 $56.0
19.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.55 $45.55
$46.16 $46.16
-1.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$87.1 $87.1
16.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$116 $116
27.62%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,276 $3,276
$2,211 $2,211
48.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,745 $2,745
$1,435 $1,435
91.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,472 $5,472
$3,833 $3,833
42.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,491 $4,491
$2,695 $2,695
66.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.9K $10.9K
$7,347 $7,347
48.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,341 $9,341
$3,180 $3,180
193.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,307 $7,307
$4,945 $4,945
47.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.45
-1.40%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: March 1, 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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