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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 26% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 65.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 30.1% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 50.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.48 $20.48
$20.03 $20.03
2.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$75.7 $75.7
33.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.66 $11.66
$10.17 $10.17
14.65%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$5.78 $5.78
1.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.65 $2.65
20.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.12 $2.12
16.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.82 $8.82
$5.89 $5.89
49.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.94 $10.94
$8.04 $8.04
36.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.15 $1.15
22.61%
White Bread (500g)
$5.01 $5.01
$3.42 $3.42
46.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.43 $3.43
-3.50%
Eggs
$4.80 $4.80
$4.33 $4.33
10.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.28 $21.28
$11.79 $11.79
80.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$10.44 $10.44
50.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.51 $22.51
$14.57 $14.57
54.50%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$4.82 $4.82
25.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.57 $1.57
63.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$4.50 $4.50
11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.44 $6.44
$3.93 $3.93
63.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.71 $2.71
26.57%
Onion (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$2.88 $2.88
55.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.97 $1.97
50.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.18 $2.18
33.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.06 $11.06
$9.11 $9.11
21.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$15.29 $15.29
-2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.36 $2.36
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.56 $3.56
-2.53%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.48 $1.48
70.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.1 $91.1
$43.25 $43.25
110.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$4.46 $4.46
-20.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.80 $1.80
2.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.59 $30.59
$34.81 $34.81
-12.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.79 $0.79
60.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$25.8K $25.8K
13.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
-0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 $294
$175 $175
68.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.63 $48.63
$58.4 $58.4
-16.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$66.9 $66.9
3.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$125 $125
$62.2 $62.2
101.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.46 $30.46
$10.10 $10.10
201.58%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 $15.63
$14.84 $14.84
5.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$1,385 $1,385
42.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.5K $26.5K
$21.7K $21.7K
22.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$56.0 $56.0
-5.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59 $43.59
$46.16 $46.16
-5.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 $89.0
$87.1 $87.1
2.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$116 $116
19.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,055 $3,055
$2,211 $2,211
38.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,711 $2,711
$1,435 $1,435
88.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,223 $5,223
$3,833 $3,833
36.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,634 $4,634
$2,695 $2,695
71.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,163 $9,163
$7,347 $7,347
24.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,844 $9,844
$3,180 $3,180
209.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,685 $5,685
$4,945 $4,945
14.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.45
0.93%

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

Last update for San Jose, 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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