Cost of Living Comparison Between Walnut Creek, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Walnut Creek, CA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,362 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,993 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,623 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Walnut Creek, CA is roughly 24% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Walnut Creek, CA 152% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.27 $22.27

$19.70 $19.70

13.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.0 $76.0

33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.32 $14.32

$9.86 $9.86

45.23%

Cappuccino

$5.46 $5.46

$5.48 $5.48

-0.36%

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

$3.19 $3.19

$2.65 $2.65

20.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.09 $2.09

3.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.09 $6.09

31.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.78 $9.78

$8.15 $8.15

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.10 $1.10

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.39 $3.39

38.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.38 $3.38

16.57%

Eggs

$5.52 $5.52

$4.39 $4.39

25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$12.10 $12.10

-53.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$10.84 $10.84

-38.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$14.68 $14.68

-55.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.96 $4.96

-7.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.51 $1.51

29.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.40 $4.40

49.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$4.10 $4.10

22.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.81 $2.81

-21.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.87 $2.87

16.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.95 $1.95

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.18 $2.18

39.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.97 $10.97

$8.99 $8.99

22.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 $12.17

$15.11 $15.11

-19.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.33 $2.33

-24.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.43 $3.43

-35.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.23 $6.23

$1.54 $1.54

304.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.41 $4.41

-21.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.83 $1.83

1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.98 $39.98

$34.65 $34.65

15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.78 $0.78

66.67%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

18.62%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

5.91%

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

$328 $328

$175 $175

87.58%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$59.7 $59.7

-11.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

$65.5 $65.5

8.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.6 $84.6

$61.3 $61.3

38.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 $15.16

$9.89 $9.89

53.29%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.76 $14.76

-0.20%

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

$2,221 $2,221

$1,372 $1,372

61.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.3K $38.3K

$22.2K $22.2K

72.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 $64.4

$56.5 $56.5

14.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 $62.4

$45.29 $45.29

37.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 $90.2

$85.0 $85.0

6.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$118 $118

3.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,388 $2,388

$2,201 $2,201

8.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,978 $1,978

$1,403 $1,403

40.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,437 $4,437

$3,815 $3,815

16.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,566 $3,566

$2,680 $2,680

33.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,571 $6,571

$3,078 $3,078

113.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,905 $6,905

$5,110 $5,110

35.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.45

1.55%

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

Last update for Walnut Creek, CA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,388 in Walnut Creek, CA and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Walnut Creek, CA pays 35% 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: $101 in Walnut Creek, CA vs $76.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $350 vs $379, with Walnut Creek, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Walnut Creek, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Walnut Creek, CA, 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: $2,388 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,221 in Walnut Creek, CA versus $1,372 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 $101 in Walnut Creek, 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, Walnut Creek, 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 24% less than in Walnut Creek, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.