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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 0.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 66.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 22.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 61.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.55 $20.55
$19.64 $19.64
4.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.3 $65.3
$76.2 $76.2
-14.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 $11.69
$9.95 $9.95
17.49%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.61 $5.61
-9.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.64 $2.64
20.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.19 $2.19
11.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.97 $6.97
$5.84 $5.84
19.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$7.92 $7.92
24.37%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.13 $1.13
31.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.96 $4.96
$3.3 $3.3
50.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.5 $3.5
-5.14%
Eggs
$4.78 $4.78
$4.4 $4.4
8.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$12 $12
21.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.34 $15.34
$10.68 $10.68
43.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.18 $22.18
$14.73 $14.73
50.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6 $6
$4.88 $4.88
22.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.52 $1.52
43.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$5 $5
$4.53 $4.53
10.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$3.92 $3.92
65.05%
Potato (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$2.72 $2.72
32.35%
Onion (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$2.76 $2.76
61.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.01 $2.01
36.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.18 $2.18
25.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.16 $11.16
$8.86 $8.86
25.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 $13.76
$14.96 $14.96
-8.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.34 $2.34
-24.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.44 $3.44
-0.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.37 $4.37
$1.48 $1.48
195.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.5 $66.5
$42.82 $42.82
55.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.3 $4.3
-17.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.82 $1.82
6.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.31 $30.31
$34.63 $34.63
-12.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.73 $0.73
69.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$25.5K $25.5K
17.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.03%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 $257
$177 $177
45.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.84 $47.84
$58.9 $58.9
-18.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 $63.5
$64.8 $64.8
-2.10%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.4 $94.4
$62.6 $62.6
50.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.8 $15.8
$14.72 $14.72
7.34%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,987 $1,987
$1,378 $1,378
44.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$22.4K $22.4K
16.11%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$56.3 $56.3
-4.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.65 $29.65
$46.46 $46.46
-36.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 $86.8
$86.7 $86.7
0.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 $125
$119 $119
4.86%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$2,188 $2,188
27.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,869 $2,869
$1,395 $1,395
105.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,762 $5,762
$3,896 $3,896
47.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,478 $5,478
$2,689 $2,689
103.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,115 $3,115
$4,414 $4,414
-29.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,308 $2,308
$3,161 $3,161
-27.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Mateo, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,443 $7,443
$4,871 $4,871
52.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
6.45
-2.02%

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

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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