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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,457 in San Francisco, CA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,585 in San Francisco, CA versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,713 in San Francisco, CA versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in San Francisco, CA is roughly 65% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Francisco, CA 234% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.17 $25.17

$19.70 $19.70

27.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$132 $132

$76.0 $76.0

73.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.14 $15.14

$9.86 $9.86

53.55%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.48 $5.48

5.47%

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

$3.25 $3.25

$2.65 $2.65

22.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.09 $2.09

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.09 $6.09

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 $7.98

$8.15 $8.15

-2.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.10 $1.10

32.73%

White Bread (500g)

$5.21 $5.21

$3.39 $3.39

53.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$3.38 $3.38

93.49%

Eggs

$6.10 $6.10

$4.39 $4.39

38.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.31 $23.31

$12.10 $12.10

92.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$10.84 $10.84

40.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.58 $23.58

$14.68 $14.68

60.63%

Apples (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$4.96 $4.96

41.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 $1.51

86.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.40 $4.40

22.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$4.10 $4.10

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.81 $2.81

38.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.87 $2.87

37.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.95 $1.95

43.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.18 $2.18

32.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$8.99 $8.99

55.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.11 $15.11

-2.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.33 $2.33

7.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.43 $3.43

-2.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.54 $1.54

90.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$93.8 $93.8

$44.15 $44.15

112.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.41 $4.41

-6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.83 $1.83

8.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.45 $39.45

$34.65 $34.65

13.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.78 $0.78

62.82%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

36.77%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

-0.86%

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

$221 $221

$175 $175

26.68%

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

$65.4 $65.4

$59.7 $59.7

9.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$65.5 $65.5

2.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.9 $98.9

$61.3 $61.3

61.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.81 $12.81

$9.89 $9.89

29.52%

Cinema Ticket

$17.28 $17.28

$14.76 $14.76

17.07%

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

$3,185 $3,185

$1,372 $1,372

132.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$22.2K $22.2K

74.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 $69.7

$56.5 $56.5

23.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.05 $46.05

$45.29 $45.29

1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$85.0 $85.0

17.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$118 $118

26.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,297 $3,297

$2,201 $2,201

49.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$1,403 $1,403

102.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,406 $5,406

$3,815 $3,815

41.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$2,680 $2,680

65.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

$7,133 $7,133

49.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,742 $8,742

$3,078 $3,078

184.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,420 $7,420

$5,110 $5,110

45.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.45

-1.40%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,297 in San Francisco, CA and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Francisco, CA pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $132 in San Francisco, CA vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $558 vs $379 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in San Francisco, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% higher in San Francisco, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,297 in San Francisco, CA versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,457 per month in San Francisco, CA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 112% less than in San Francisco, 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,706 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in San Francisco, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.