Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz, CA is 24.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 56.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 20.5% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.89 $22.89

$20.03 $20.03

14.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$75.7 $75.7

4.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 $12.68

$10.17 $10.17

24.68%

Cappuccino

$5.97 $5.97

$5.78 $5.78

3.29%

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

$3.39 $3.39

$2.65 $2.65

27.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.12 $2.12

16.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

$5.89 $5.89

17.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.34 $7.34

$8.04 $8.04

-8.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.15 $1.15

18.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.42 $3.42

45.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.77 $6.77

$3.43 $3.43

97.38%

Eggs

$6.10 $6.10

$4.33 $4.33

40.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.51 $23.51

$11.79 $11.79

99.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$10.44 $10.44

41.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.74 $23.74

$14.57 $14.57

62.94%

Apples (1kg)

$7.23 $7.23

$4.82 $4.82

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.57 $1.57

85.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.50 $4.50

15.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.74 $7.74

$3.93 $3.93

96.95%

Potato (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.71 $2.71

41.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.88 $2.88

34.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.97 $1.97

43.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.18 $2.18

29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.84 $13.84

$9.11 $9.11

51.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$30.42 $30.42

$15.29 $15.29

98.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.36 $2.36

-12.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.56 $3.56

-22.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.48 $1.48

38.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.5 $65.5

$43.25 $43.25

51.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.46 $4.46

-8.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.80 $1.80

7.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.13 $39.13

$34.81 $34.81

12.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.79 $0.79

63.29%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

36.74%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-5.03%

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

$222 $222

$175 $175

26.94%

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

$47.69 $47.69

$58.4 $58.4

-18.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$66.9 $66.9

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.6 $59.6

$62.2 $62.2

-4.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.10 $10.10

Cinema Ticket

$16.77 $16.77

$14.84 $14.84

13.01%

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

$3,166 $3,166

$1,385 $1,385

128.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$21.7K $21.7K

77.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 $62.4

$56.0 $56.0

11.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.11 $45.11

$46.16 $46.16

-2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 $81.2

$87.1 $87.1

-6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$116 $116

0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,924 $2,924

$2,211 $2,211

32.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,590 $2,590

$1,435 $1,435

80.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,670 $5,670

$3,833 $3,833

47.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,695 $2,695

54.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,946 $7,946

$7,347 $7,347

8.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.4K $11.4K

$3,180 $3,180

257.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,566 $5,566

$4,945 $4,945

12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.45

-1.40%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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