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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 14.4% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 65.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 10.3% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 79% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.29 $25.29

$19.64 $19.64

28.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$76.2 $76.2

30.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.3 $12.3

$9.95 $9.95

23.62%

Cappuccino

$5.68 $5.68

$5.61 $5.61

1.25%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$2.64 $2.64

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.19 $2.19

5.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.59 $8.59

$5.84 $5.84

47.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 $9.32

$7.92 $7.92

17.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.13 $1.13

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.3 $3.3

34.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.5 $3.5

28.29%

Eggs

$7.19 $7.19

$4.4 $4.4

63.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$12 $12

3.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$10.68 $10.68

28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.46 $14.46

$14.73 $14.73

-1.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.88 $4.88

10.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.52 $1.52

28.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.53 $4.53

-12.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.92 $3.92

46.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.72 $2.72

9.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.76 $2.76

-11.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.01 $2.01

-9.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.18 $2.18

-2.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.83 $10.83

$8.86 $8.86

22.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.96 $14.96

2.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.34 $2.34

8.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 $5.34

$3.44 $3.44

55.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.48 $1.48

40.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.5 $81.5

$42.82 $42.82

90.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.3 $4.3

-26.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.82 $1.82

-6.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$34.63 $34.63

-16.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.73 $0.73

69.86%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

-6.36%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

-3.10%

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

$190 $190

$177 $177

7.42%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$58.9 $58.9

-0.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$64.8 $64.8

3.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$62.6 $62.6

95.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.73 $44.73

$10.17 $10.17

339.82%

Cinema Ticket

$18.03 $18.03

$14.72 $14.72

22.49%

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

$1,791 $1,791

$1,378 $1,378

29.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$22.4K $22.4K

-34.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 $62.8

$56.3 $56.3

11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.08 $34.08

$46.46 $46.46

-26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.7 $86.7

17.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$119 $119

28.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,279 $3,279

$2,188 $2,188

49.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,892 $2,892

$1,395 $1,395

107.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,850 $6,850

$3,896 $3,896

75.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,897 $5,897

$2,689 $2,689

119.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$4,414 $4,414

144.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,171 $8,171

$3,161 $3,161

158.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,229 $7,229

$4,871 $4,871

48.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.45

0.62%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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