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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,450 in San Mateo, CA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,670 in San Mateo, CA versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,889 in San Mateo, CA versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Mateo, CA 224% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$19.82 $19.82

-0.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$83.9 $83.9

21.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.30 $12.30

4.47%

Cappuccino

$5.50 $5.50

$5.48 $5.48

0.36%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$3.72 $3.72

-19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.36 $2.36

15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.76 $7.76

4.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.94 $9.94

$9.14 $9.14

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.13 $1.13

39.82%

White Bread (500g)

$5.83 $5.83

$3.75 $3.75

55.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$3.43 $3.43

80.76%

Eggs

$7.58 $7.58

$4.35 $4.35

74.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$13.14 $13.14

4.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.53 $18.53

$14.39 $14.39

28.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.21 $20.21

$17.20 $17.20

17.50%

Apples (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$4.49 $4.49

36.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.44 $1.44

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.67 $4.67

-11.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.58 $8.58

$4.97 $4.97

72.64%

Potato (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.00 $3.00

49.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.69 $2.69

14.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.85 $1.85

60.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.18 $2.18

-7.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.76 $11.76

$9.45 $9.45

24.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.11 $15.11

-2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.89 $2.89

-41.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$3.49 $3.49

-42.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.64 $1.64

141.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.0 $96.0

$40.44 $40.44

137.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.81 $2.81

45.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.58 $1.58

30.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.90 $0.90

54.44%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.9K $35.9K

3.15%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.01%

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

$244 $244

$222 $222

10.02%

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

$41.13 $41.13

$58.3 $58.3

-29.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.0 $61.0

$69.1 $69.1

-11.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 $109

$66.2 $66.2

64.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.57 $9.57

$14.76 $14.76

-35.16%

Cinema Ticket

$18.17 $18.17

$13.78 $13.78

31.86%

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

$2,991 $2,991

$1,526 $1,526

95.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.6K $28.6K

$21.2K $21.2K

35.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 $62.7

$54.6 $54.6

15.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.47 $46.47

$44.01 $44.01

5.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$89.7 $89.7

30.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$109 $109

27.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,273 $3,273

$1,942 $1,942

68.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,772 $2,772

$1,258 $1,258

120.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,831 $5,831

$3,762 $3,762

55.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,158 $5,158

$2,592 $2,592

98.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K $14.1K

$7,403 $7,403

91.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,716 $8,716

$3,203 $3,203

172.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,356 $7,356

$5,085 $5,085

44.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.96

6.44

-7.45%

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

Last update for San Mateo, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,273 in San Mateo, CA and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Mateo, 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: $102 in San Mateo, CA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $524 vs $417 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 Mateo, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in San Mateo, 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 Mateo, 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: $3,273 in San Mateo, CA versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,450 per month in San Mateo, CA versus $2,695 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 137% less than in San Mateo, 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 $2,695 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Mateo, CA and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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