Cost of Living Comparison Between San Marcos, TX and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between San Marcos, TX and Austin, TX

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: San Marcos, TX is 15.2% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 3.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: San Marcos, TX is 17.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.24 $19.24
$19.64 $19.64
-2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 $69.8
$76.2 $76.2
-8.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 $9.82
$9.95 $9.95
-1.31%
Cappuccino
$4.74 $4.74
$5.61 $5.61
-15.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.64 $2.64
8.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.19 $2.19
-0.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.1 $6.1
$5.84 $5.84
4.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 $7.16
$7.92 $7.92
-9.60%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.13 $1.13
-15.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.3 $3.3
-8.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.5 $3.5
-2.00%
Eggs
$3.84 $3.84
$4.4 $4.4
-12.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 $9.64
$12 $12
-19.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.24 $12.24
$10.68 $10.68
14.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.02 $17.02
$14.73 $14.73
15.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.88 $4.88
-16.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.52 $1.52
-19.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$4.53 $4.53
-11.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.92 $3.92
-36.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.72 $2.72
5.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.76 $2.76
-17.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.01 $2.01
-7.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.18 $2.18
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89 $7.89
$8.86 $8.86
-10.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$14.96 $14.96
-18.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.34 $2.34
-14.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$3.44 $3.44
9.01%
🚌 Getting Around
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.48 $1.48
31.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.3 $4.3
-8.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.82 $1.82
2.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.57 $29.57
$34.63 $34.63
-14.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.73 $0.73
5.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K $32.3K
$25.5K $25.5K
26.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.3K $26.3K
-1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$177 $177
8.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$58.9 $58.9
5.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4 $66.4
$64.8 $64.8
2.33%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.7 $67.7
$62.6 $62.6
8.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$14.72 $14.72
2.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$661 $661
$1,378 $1,378
-52.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K $19.2K
$22.4K $22.4K
-14.32%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.5 $46.5
$56.3 $56.3
-17.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.01 $45.01
$46.46 $46.46
-3.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 $98.8
$86.7 $86.7
14.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$119 $119
3.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 $1,344
$2,188 $2,188
-38.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 $1,389
$1,395 $1,395
-0.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,973 $2,973
$3,896 $3,896
-23.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,424 $2,424
$2,689 $2,689
-9.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,377 $2,377
$4,414 $4,414
-46.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,863 $1,863
$3,161 $3,161
-41.07%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,177 $3,177
$4,871 $4,871
-34.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.45
-0.16%

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

Last update for San Marcos, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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