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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,372 in San Rafael, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,618 in San Rafael, CA versus $4,104 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,865 in San Rafael, CA versus $5,490 in Austin, TX.

Living in San Rafael, CA is roughly 61% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Rafael, CA 225% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.36 $22.36

$19.36 $19.36

15.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.2 $65.2

$73.7 $73.7

-11.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 $10.94

$10.19 $10.19

7.36%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.71 $5.71

0.70%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.65 $2.65

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.19 $2.19

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.91 $5.91

3.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.31 $9.31

$8.09 $8.09

15.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.09 $1.09

13.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.38 $3.38

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$3.34 $3.34

97.01%

Eggs

$4.69 $4.69

$4.44 $4.44

5.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.43 $15.43

$11.87 $11.87

29.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$10.81 $10.81

19.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.50 $18.50

$14.27 $14.27

29.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$4.82 $4.82

2.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.54 $1.54

85.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.56 $4.56

33.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.41 $8.41

$3.98 $3.98

111.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.86 $2.86

35.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.78 $2.78

39.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.95 $1.95

22.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.22 $2.22

27.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.79 $10.79

$9.07 $9.07

18.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 $13.65

$14.95 $14.95

-8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.29 $2.29

-5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.40 $3.40

-1.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.49 $1.49

2.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.18 $30.18

$42.63 $42.63

-29.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.32 $4.32

-19.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.78 $1.78

-11.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.26 $29.26

$34.51 $34.51

-15.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.75 $0.75

64.00%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.63%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

2.40%

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

$185 $185

$176 $176

5.53%

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

$51.4 $51.4

$59.6 $59.6

-13.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$66.9 $66.9

-8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$248 $248

$62.4 $62.4

297.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.79 $40.79

$9.96 $9.96

309.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.54 $14.54

$15.04 $15.04

-3.32%

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

$2,018 $2,018

$1,387 $1,387

45.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$22.4K $22.4K

2.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.60 $41.60

$56.4 $56.4

-26.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.54 $38.54

$46.71 $46.71

-17.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$86.5 $86.5

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$119 $119

3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,354 $3,354

$2,174 $2,174

54.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,439 $1,439

95.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,754 $3,754

7.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,317 $3,317

$2,698 $2,698

22.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,629 $7,629

$7,033 $7,033

8.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,360 $5,360

$3,113 $3,113

72.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,430 $5,430

$5,081 $5,081

6.88%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,354 in San Rafael, CA and $2,174 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Rafael, CA pays 7% 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: $65.0 in San Rafael, CA vs $74.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $479 vs $377, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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 Rafael, CA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in San Rafael, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

San Rafael, CA pays 7% more on average, 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: $3,354 in San Rafael, CA versus $2,174 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,372 per month in San Rafael, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 41% less than in San Rafael, 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 cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, San Rafael, 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 61% less than in San Rafael, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.