Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Los Angeles, CA 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA is 19.9% higher than in Austin, TX (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Los Angeles, CA is 28.8% higher than in Austin, TX
Rent Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 45.1% higher than in Austin, TX
Restaurant Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 26.7% higher than in Austin, TX
Groceries Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 10.9% higher than in Austin, TX
Local Purchasing Power in Los Angeles, CA is 31.1% lower than in Austin, TX
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant $20.00 $25.00      +25.0 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) $80.00 $120.00      +50.0 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) $12.00 $13.00      +8.3 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) $7.00 $8.00      +14.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) $8.00 $9.00      +12.5 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) $5.32 $5.98      +12.5 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) $3.36 $3.56      +6.1 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) $2.17 $2.61      +20.4 %
Markets
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) $1.03 $1.33      +29.5 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) $3.43 $4.52      +31.8 %
White Rice (1 lb) $1.53 $2.20      +43.6 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) $4.48 $5.96      +32.8 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) $5.99 $5.35      -10.7 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) $6.72 $7.07      +5.2 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) $8.34 $9.22      +10.6 %
Apples (1 lb) $2.35 $2.46      +4.9 %
Bananas (1 lb) $0.70 $1.11      +57.6 %
Oranges (1 lb) $2.33 $2.40      +2.8 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) $2.25 $2.53      +12.8 %
Potatoes (1 lb) $1.52 $1.49      -1.7 %
Onions (1 lb) $1.23 $1.31      +7.0 %
Lettuce (1 Head) $1.99 $2.14      +7.5 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) $2.26 $2.50      +10.3 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) $15.00 $15.00      0.0 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) $2.94 $2.79      -4.9 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) $3.52 $2.52      -28.5 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) $9.75 $11.86      +21.6 %
Transportation
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) $1.75 $1.75      +0.0 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) $41.25 $105.00      +154.5 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) $2.75 $3.10      +12.7 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) $2.60 $2.98      +14.6 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) $35.00 $32.11      -8.3 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) $0.86 $1.42      +66.1 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) $35,356.00 $35,499.00      +0.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) $27,000.20 $26,152.97      -3.1 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) $203.51 $268.22      +31.8 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) $56.47 $67.62      +19.8 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) $67.85 $77.67      +14.5 %
Sports And Leisure
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership $64.14 $62.88      -2.0 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) $18.00 $12.00      -33.3 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) $15.00 $18.00      +20.0 %
Childcare
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child $1,488.47 $1,739.86      +16.9 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child $21,190.62 $32,155.00      +51.7 %
Clothing And Shoes
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) $53.50 $83.13      +55.4 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) $43.56 $61.55      +41.3 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) $86.08 $109.56      +27.3 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes $108.50 $183.30      +68.9 %
Rent Per Month
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre $1,963.25 $2,534.35      +29.1 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre $1,374.33 $2,343.75      +70.5 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre $3,850.00 $5,341.06      +38.7 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre $2,580.59 $3,952.12      +53.1 %
Buy Apartment Price
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre $671.05 $757.58      +12.9 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre $293.07 $663.07      +126.2 %
Salaries And Financing
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) $5,055.77 $4,485.83      -11.3 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.44 6.33      -1.6 %
Last update: 15 June 202612 June 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:122180