Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tustin, CA and Livermore, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Livermore, CA: $3,565 a month against $4,356 in Tustin, CA, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Tustin, CA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Tustin, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,356
/mo nomad
Livermore, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,565
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tustin, CA and in Livermore, CA

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 Livermore, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,356 per month in Tustin, CA vs $3,565 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

  • Tustin, CA $4,356
  • Livermore, CA $3,565

A couple spends around $5,959 per month in Tustin, CA vs $5,883 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

  • Tustin, CA $5,959
  • Livermore, CA $5,883

A family of three spends $7,561 per month in Tustin, CA vs $8,201 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

  • Tustin, CA $7,561
  • Livermore, CA $8,201

Tustin, CA costs about 22% more than Livermore, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Tustin, CA and Livermore, CA sit above the global median – Tustin, CA by 223%, Livermore, CA by 164%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.42 $25.42
$21.91 $21.91
16.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0 $70.0
$69.9 $69.9
0.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.27 $15.27
$10.38 $10.38
47.11%
Cappuccino
$5.72 $5.72
$6.09 $6.09
-6.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$1.94 $1.94
61.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.94 $2.94
-20.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.21 $7.21
$5.87 $5.87
22.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.76 $9.76
$7.62 $7.62
28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.93 $1.93
-40.93%
White Bread (500g)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.33 $4.33
19.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$5.73 $5.73
-15.36%
Eggs
$5.07 $5.07
$6.32 $6.32
-19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.84 $15.84
$26.13 $26.13
-39.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$16.29 $16.29
-17.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.36 $15.36
$22.37 $22.37
-31.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$7.16 $7.16
-34.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.34 $2.34
5.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$6.33 $6.33
-35.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$10.34 $10.34
-45.07%
Potato (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.63 $3.63
-3.03%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$4.64 $4.64
-32.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.48 $2.48
-12.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.16 $3.16
-13.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.53 $11.53
$11.78 $11.78
-2.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$12.87 $12.87
16.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.10 $2.10
16.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.86 $2.86
48.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.95 $1.95
4.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.46 $33.46
$59.9 $59.9
-44.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.47 $3.47
-11.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.85 $1.85
1.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.22 $30.22
$39.41 $39.41
-23.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.44 $1.44
2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K $36.9K
$36.6K $36.6K
0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$25.5K $25.5K
0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$184 $184
16.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$86.8 $86.8
$62.7 $62.7
38.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.4 $73.4
$75.1 $75.1
-2.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.5 $97.5
$40.39 $40.39
141.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.06 $25.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.86 $16.86
$13.42 $13.42
25.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,451 $1,451
$2,502 $2,502
-41.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.0K $30.0K
$34.7K $34.7K
-13.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.4 $74.4
$49.91 $49.91
49.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.33 $41.33
$39.18 $39.18
5.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$64.7 $64.7
59.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149 $149
$233 $233
-36.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,159 $3,159
$2,438 $2,438
29.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,780 $2,780
$2,004 $2,004
38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,392 $4,392
$5,761 $5,761
-23.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,142 $4,142
$4,740 $4,740
-12.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,835 $7,835
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,365 $5,365
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tustin, CA
Livermore, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,722 $4,722
$6,740 $6,740
-29.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.3
5.40%

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

Last update for Tustin, CA: October 11, 2026

Last update for Livermore, CA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tustin, CA
$2.8K
Livermore, CA
$2K 27.9% $776
Groceries & Markets
Tustin, CA
$455
Livermore, CA
$575 26.3% $120
Eating Out
Tustin, CA
$395
Livermore, CA
$344 13.1% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tustin, CA
$376
Livermore, CA
$322 14.3% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Tustin, CA
$166
Livermore, CA
$174 5% $8.3
Sport & Entertainment
Tustin, CA
$131
Livermore, CA
$67 48.8% $64
Getting Around
Tustin, CA
$54
Livermore, CA
$80 48.5% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,159 in Tustin, CA versus $2,438 in Livermore, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Livermore, CA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Tustin, CA versus $70.0 in Livermore, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $455 vs $575 – making Tustin, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Tustin, CA
🇺🇸 Livermore, CA
🕒 Local time
23:41 11:41 PM
23:41 11:41 PM
Same time as Tustin, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,665
86,803
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tustin, CA Livermore, CA 560 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Tustin, CA
  • Livermore, CA

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 Livermore, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tustin, CA or Livermore, CA?
Tustin, CA costs about 22% more than Livermore, CA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tustin, CA and in Livermore, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,535 per month in Tustin, CA and $5,348 in Livermore, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Tustin, CA or Livermore, CA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Livermore, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Tustin, CA or in Livermore, CA?
Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Tustin, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Tustin, CA and in Livermore, CA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Tustin, CA and $70.0 in Livermore, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tustin, CA or in Livermore, CA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,356 in Tustin, CA and $3,565 in Livermore, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tustin, CA or Livermore, CA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Livermore, CA costs $3,565 versus $4,356 in Tustin, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Tustin, CA compared to Livermore, CA?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Tustin, CA or to Livermore, CA?
If budget matters most, go with Livermore, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tustin, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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