Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,698 a month against $4,309 in Tustin, CA, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

210

Cost of Living Index in Tustin, CA
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Tustin, CA Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Tustin, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,309

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tustin, CA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tustin, CA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,309 in Tustin, CA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

Tustin, CA $4,309
Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,936 in Tustin, CA versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

Tustin, CA $5,936
Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,563 in Tustin, CA versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

Tustin, CA $7,563
Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Tustin, CA is roughly 60% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tustin, CA 218% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.14 $25.14

$20.63 $20.63

21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 $69.5

$84.6 $84.6

-17.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.07 $15.07

$12.07 $12.07

24.86%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.48 $5.48

4.56%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.80 $3.80

-19.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.47 $2.47

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.26 $7.26

$8.05 $8.05

-9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.74 $9.74

$8.88 $8.88

9.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.11 $1.11

8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$5.12 $5.12

$3.72 $3.72

37.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$3.37 $3.37

41.84%

Eggs

$4.86 $4.86

$4.32 $4.32

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$13.13 $13.13

19.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.43 $13.43

$14.15 $14.15

-5.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.33 $16.33

-7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.55 $4.55

1.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.46 $1.46

69.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.71 $4.71

-13.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.15 $4.15

38.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.58 $2.58

42.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.35 $2.35

35.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.77 $1.77

18.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.14 $2.14

26.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.57 $11.57

$10.10 $10.10

14.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$15.19 $15.19

-2.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.82 $2.82

-13.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.44 $3.44

27.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.54 $1.54

33.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.59 $34.59

$40.99 $40.99

-15.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.80 $2.80

13.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.60 $1.60

13.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$34.34 $34.34

-13.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 $1.50

$0.94 $0.94

59.57%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$34.0K $34.0K

-13.72%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.81%

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

$214 $214

$223 $223

-3.96%

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

$86.6 $86.6

$58.9 $58.9

47.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$70.6 $70.6

1.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.4 $96.4

$57.7 $57.7

67.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.25 $25.25

$16.53 $16.53

52.75%

Cinema Ticket

$17.30 $17.30

$14.26 $14.26

21.32%

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

$1,465 $1,465

$1,511 $1,511

-3.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$20.9K $20.9K

46.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$51.3 $51.3

41.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.10 $41.10

$44.17 $44.17

-6.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$87.0 $87.0

20.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$104 $104

41.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,131 $3,131

$1,940 $1,940

61.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,741 $2,741

$1,316 $1,316

108.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,420 $4,420

$3,664 $3,664

20.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,160 $4,160

$2,565 $2,565

62.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,723 $7,723

$7,354 $7,354

5.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,320 $5,320

$3,129 $3,129

70.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,945 $4,945

$5,286 $5,286

-6.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.79

-2.21%

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

Last update for Tustin, CA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Tustin, CA

$2.7K 63.6%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8% 52% $1.4K

Groceries & Markets

Tustin, CA

$453 10.5%

Austin, TX

$406 15.1% 10.5% $47

Eating Out

Tustin, CA

$392 9.1%

Austin, TX

$350 13% 10.8% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Tustin, CA

$372 8.6%

Austin, TX

$352 13.1% 5.4% $20

Clothing & Footwear

Tustin, CA

$165 3.8%

Austin, TX

$129 4.8% 21.6% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Tustin, CA

$131 3%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 34.2% $45

Getting Around

Tustin, CA

$55 1.3%

Austin, TX

$58 2.2% 5.3% $2.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,131 in Tustin, CA and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $69.0 in Tustin, CA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $453 vs $406, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Tustin, CA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

03:12 3:12 AM

05:12 5:12 AM

2 h ahead of Tustin, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

69,665

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Tustin, CA Austin, TX 1,930 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Tustin, CA
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Tustin, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,131 in Tustin, CA versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,309 per month in Tustin, CA versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 19% less than in Tustin, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Tustin, 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 60% less than in Tustin, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.