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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,726 per month in Tustin, CA vs $3,441 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,320 per month in Tustin, CA vs $5,717 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,915 per month in Tustin, CA vs $7,993 in Livermore, CA, rent included.

Tustin, CA costs about 8% more than Livermore, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tustin, CA and Livermore, CA sit above the global median – Tustin, CA by 178%, Livermore, CA by 157%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.48 $25.48

$20.38 $20.38

25.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.6 $83.6

$85.3 $85.3

-2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.08 $10.08

$9.87 $9.87

2.13%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.96 $1.96

41.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.75 $2.75

-28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.90 $6.90

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 $7.07

$9.20 $9.20

-23.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.23 $1.23

-7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.46 $4.46

-2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.60 $6.60

-26.67%

Eggs

$4.62 $4.62

$6.31 $6.31

-26.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 $12.38

$16.74 $16.74

-26.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.39 $11.39

$18.25 $18.25

-37.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$21.18 $21.18

-32.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$6.13 $6.13

-35.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.77 $1.77

9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.38 $4.38

-13.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.59 $5.59

-0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.87 $3.87

-15.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.61 $5.61

-45.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.95 $1.95

0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.40 $3.40

-35.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.91 $9.91

12.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.14 $13.14

16.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.16 $2.16

-20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.44 $2.44

86.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.03 $2.03

1.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.45 $33.45

$60.0 $60.0

-44.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.60 $3.60

-16.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.18 $30.18

$28.79 $28.79

4.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.22 $1.22

1.64%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$29.9K $29.9K

-5.75%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

4.83%

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

$224 $224

$277 $277

-18.96%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$48.75 $48.75

10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 $71.3

$66.0 $66.0

8.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.0 $99.0

$40.16 $40.16

146.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.06 $25.06

Cinema Ticket

$14.15 $14.15

$10.90 $10.90

29.82%

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

$1,443 $1,443

$1,881 $1,881

-23.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.5K $30.5K

$23.7K $23.7K

28.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 $68.1

$44.61 $44.61

52.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.84 $40.84

$39.44 $39.44

3.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$62.8 $62.8

37.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$111 $111

38.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,014 $3,014

$2,358 $2,358

27.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,340 $2,340

$1,978 $1,978

18.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,520 $4,520

$5,881 $5,881

-23.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,736 $3,736

$4,680 $4,680

-20.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,841 $7,841

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,331 $5,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,780 $4,780

$6,885 $6,885

-30.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.45

2.02%

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

Last update for Tustin, CA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Livermore, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,014 in Tustin, CA versus $2,358 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 44% 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 $84.0 in Tustin, CA versus $85.0 in Livermore, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $514 – making Tustin, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Tustin, CA costs about 8% more than Livermore, CA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,589 per month in Tustin, CA and $5,161 in Livermore, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Tustin, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84.0 in Tustin, CA and $85.0 in Livermore, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,726 in Tustin, CA and $3,441 in Livermore, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Livermore, CA costs $3,441 versus $3,726 in Tustin, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.