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

😐 Solo nomad: San Rafael, CA is 26.7% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 66.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Rafael, CA is 8.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.73 $22.73
$19.64 $19.64
15.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9 $64.9
$76.2 $76.2
-14.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.05 $11.05
$9.95 $9.95
11.06%
Cappuccino
$5.77 $5.77
$5.61 $5.61
2.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.64 $2.64
-1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.19 $2.19
16.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.94 $5.94
$5.84 $5.84
1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.47 $9.47
$7.92 $7.92
19.57%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.13 $1.13
12.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.96 $3.96
$3.3 $3.3
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.91 $6.91
$3.5 $3.5
97.43%
Eggs
$4.54 $4.54
$4.4 $4.4
3.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.52 $15.52
$12 $12
29.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.85 $12.85
$10.68 $10.68
20.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.39 $18.39
$14.73 $14.73
24.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.88 $4.88
2.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.52 $1.52
91.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.18 $6.18
$4.53 $4.53
36.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.42 $8.42
$3.92 $3.92
114.80%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.72 $2.72
38.24%
Onion (1kg)
$3.79 $3.79
$2.76 $2.76
37.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.01 $2.01
24.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.18 $2.18
35.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.81 $10.81
$8.86 $8.86
22.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.59 $12.59
$14.96 $14.96
-15.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.34 $2.34
-10.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.44 $3.44
1.45%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.48 $1.48
3.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.14 $30.14
$42.82 $42.82
-29.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 $3.59
$4.3 $4.3
-16.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.82 $1.82
-9.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.66 $28.66
$34.63 $34.63
-17.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.73 $0.73
68.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K $27K
$25.5K $25.5K
5.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$177 $177
5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3 $51.3
$58.9 $58.9
-12.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$64.8 $64.8
-4.94%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$247 $247
$62.6 $62.6
293.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.9 $39.9
$10.17 $10.17
292.33%
Cinema Ticket
$14.71 $14.71
$14.72 $14.72
-0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,967 $1,967
$1,378 $1,378
42.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$22.4K $22.4K
5.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.12 $41.12
$56.3 $56.3
-26.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.89 $37.89
$46.46 $46.46
-18.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$86.7 $86.7
16.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$119 $119
2.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,340 $3,340
$2,188 $2,188
52.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,833 $2,833
$1,395 $1,395
103.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,080 $4,080
$3,896 $3,896
4.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,280 $3,280
$2,689 $2,689
21.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,615 $7,615
$4,414 $4,414
72.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,279 $5,279
$3,161 $3,161
66.99%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Rafael, CA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,319 $5,319
$4,871 $4,871
9.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.32
6.45
-2.02%

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

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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