Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Saratoga, CA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,819 in Saratoga, CA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,175 in Saratoga, CA versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,531 in Saratoga, CA versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in Saratoga, CA is roughly 4% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saratoga, CA 110% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.54 $20.54

$19.99 $19.99

2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$76.2 $76.2

3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.71 $11.71

$10.13 $10.13

15.60%

Cappuccino

$5.88 $5.88

$5.49 $5.49

7.10%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.72 $2.72

18.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.14 $2.14

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.81 $6.81

$6.07 $6.07

12.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.52 $7.52

$8.04 $8.04

-6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.09 $1.09

24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.34 $3.34

43.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.42 $3.42

-3.80%

Eggs

$5.01 $5.01

$4.32 $4.32

15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.59 $30.59

$11.80 $11.80

159.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.35 $15.35

$10.68 $10.68

43.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.44 $23.44

$14.50 $14.50

61.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.79 $4.79

26.93%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.50 $1.50

65.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.51 $4.51

6.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$4.04 $4.04

68.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.76 $2.76

30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.79 $2.79

59.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.04 $2.04

46.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.15 $2.15

30.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.23 $9.23

20.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 $12.16

$14.81 $14.81

-17.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.29 $2.29

-5.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.53 $3.53

-22.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 $1.52

30.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.29 $4.29

-16.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.82 $1.82

1.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 $29.52

$35.52 $35.52

-16.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$0.77 $0.77

70.13%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

18.25%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.05%

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

$293 $293

$172 $172

70.32%

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

$46.22 $46.22

$60.3 $60.3

-23.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$67.2 $67.2

1.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.71 $42.71

$62.8 $62.8

-32.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$15.53 $15.53

$14.73 $14.73

5.43%

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

$1,992 $1,992

$1,398 $1,398

42.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$21.8K $21.8K

18.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 $63.8

$55.1 $55.1

15.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.45 $44.45

$45.66 $45.66

-2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 $79.9

$86.8 $86.8

-7.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$115 $115

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$2,245 $2,245

-29.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,345 $1,345

$1,401 $1,401

-3.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$3,782 $3,782

-31.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,186 $2,186

$2,708 $2,708

-19.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,028 $3,028

$7,304 $7,304

-58.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 $2,130

$3,331 $3,331

-36.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,925 $7,925

$4,910 $4,910

61.40%

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 Saratoga, CA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,583 in Saratoga, CA and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saratoga, CA pays 61% 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: $79 in Saratoga, CA vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $538 vs $375 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Saratoga, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Saratoga, CA pays 61% 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: $1,583 in Saratoga, CA versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,992 in Saratoga, CA versus $1,398 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $79.0 in Saratoga, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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, Saratoga, 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 4% less than in Saratoga, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.