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 5.3% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 57.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 18.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 41.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.44 $22.44

$19.64 $19.64

14.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$76.2 $76.2

4.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.36 $12.36

$9.95 $9.95

24.22%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.61 $5.61

4.28%

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

$3.41 $3.41

$2.64 $2.64

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.19 $2.19

15.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.84 $5.84

18.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.46 $7.46

$7.92 $7.92

-5.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.13 $1.13

26.55%

White Bread (500g)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.3 $3.3

56.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$3.5 $3.5

90.00%

Eggs

$5.96 $5.96

$4.4 $4.4

35.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.24 $23.24

$12 $12

93.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$10.68 $10.68

39.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.7 $23.7

$14.73 $14.73

60.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.05 $7.05

$4.88 $4.88

44.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.52 $1.52

82.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$4.53 $4.53

17.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$3.92 $3.92

91.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.72 $2.72

42.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.76 $2.76

42.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.01 $2.01

44.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.18 $2.18

31.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.16 $14.16

$8.86 $8.86

59.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.02 $12.02

$14.96 $14.96

-19.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.34 $2.34

-8.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.44 $3.44

-22.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.48 $1.48

38.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 $65.2

$42.82 $42.82

52.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.3 $4.3

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.82 $1.82

6.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.9 $38.9

$34.63 $34.63

12.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.73 $0.73

69.86%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

37.06%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

0.59%

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

$221 $221

$177 $177

25.07%

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

$47.05 $47.05

$58.9 $58.9

-20.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$64.8 $64.8

4.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 $60.2

$62.6 $62.6

-3.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$17.04 $17.04

$14.72 $14.72

15.76%

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

$3,225 $3,225

$1,378 $1,378

133.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$22.4K $22.4K

71.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$56.3 $56.3

12.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.64 $46.64

$46.46 $46.46

0.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 $79.3

$86.7 $86.7

-8.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$119 $119

-3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,893 $2,893

$2,188 $2,188

32.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$1,395 $1,395

89.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,700 $5,700

$3,896 $3,896

46.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,219 $4,219

$2,689 $2,689

56.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,235 $9,235

$4,414 $4,414

109.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,116 $8,116

$3,161 $3,161

156.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,594 $5,594

$4,871 $4,871

14.85%

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: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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