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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Maria, CA is 19.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Santa Maria, CA is 25.7% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 3.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$19.64 $19.64

2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.9 $68.9

$76.2 $76.2

-9.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.29 $11.29

$9.95 $9.95

13.47%

Cappuccino

$4.76 $4.76

$5.61 $5.61

-15.15%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$2.64 $2.64

-7.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.19 $2.19

-8.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.84 $5.84

4.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$7.92 $7.92

3.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.3 $3.3

-17.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.5 $3.5

36.00%

Eggs

$3.59 $3.59

$4.4 $4.4

-18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.26 $10.26

$12 $12

-14.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 $8.37

$10.68 $10.68

-21.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.21 $17.21

$14.73 $14.73

16.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.88 $4.88

-21.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.53 $4.53

-23.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.92 $3.92

-17.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.72 $2.72

12.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.76 $2.76

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.01 $2.01

-11.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 $1.31

$2.18 $2.18

-39.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11 $11

$8.86 $8.86

24.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.96 $14.96

2.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.34 $2.34

-26.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.44 $3.44

-3.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.48 $1.48

31.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.3 $4.3

-18.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.82 $1.82

-0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.6 $24.6

$34.63 $34.63

-28.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.73 $0.73

68.49%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

44.53%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.3K $26.3K

11.60%

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

$166 $166

$177 $177

-5.91%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$58.9 $58.9

-13.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.4 $85.4

$64.8 $64.8

31.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.52 $43.52

$62.6 $62.6

-30.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.55 $14.55

$14.72 $14.72

-1.15%

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

$992 $992

$1,378 $1,378

-28.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

-42.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$56.3 $56.3

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 $39.73

$46.46 $46.46

-14.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73 $73

$86.7 $86.7

-15.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.1 $78.1

$119 $119

-34.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$2,188 $2,188

3.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$1,395 $1,395

47.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,376 $3,376

$3,896 $3,896

-13.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,689 $2,689

16.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,992 $7,992

$4,414 $4,414

81.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,900 $7,900

$3,161 $3,161

149.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,387 $4,387

$4,871 $4,871

-9.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Santa Maria, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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