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

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Los Angeles, CA is 23.5% higher than in Austin, TX (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Los Angeles, CA is 25.6% higher than in Austin, TX
Rent Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 28.9% higher than in Austin, TX
Restaurant Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 19.2% higher than in Austin, TX
Groceries Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 25.1% higher than in Austin, TX
Local Purchasing Power in Los Angeles, CA is 24.2% 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 $ 100.00 $      +25.0 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 11.00 $ 12.38 $      +12.5 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 6.00 $ 8.00 $      +33.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 8.00 $ 9.75 $      +21.9 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 5.58 $ 5.74 $      +2.9 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.78 $ 2.80 $      +0.7 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 2.15 $ 2.30 $      +6.9 %
Markets
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 0.98 $ 1.29 $      +31.1 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 3.04 $ 4.06 $      +33.5 %
White Rice (1 lb) 1.50 $ 2.37 $      +58.2 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 5.02 $ 7.38 $      +46.9 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.66 $ 6.16 $      +8.7 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 5.51 $ 7.19 $      +30.5 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 6.88 $ 9.23 $      +34.1 %
Apples (1 lb) 2.17 $ 2.64 $      +21.6 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.69 $ 1.27 $      +83.3 %
Oranges (1 lb) 1.96 $ 2.16 $      +10.1 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 1.75 $ 2.18 $      +24.5 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 1.26 $ 1.42 $      +12.3 %
Onions (1 lb) 1.22 $ 1.23 $      +0.1 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 1.92 $ 1.90 $      -0.9 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 2.14 $ 2.23 $      +4.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $ 15.00 $      0.0 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 2.77 $ 3.05 $      +10.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 3.40 $ 3.36 $      -1.3 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 9.00 $ 12.00 $      +33.3 %
Transportation
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.50 $ 2.00 $      +33.3 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 41.25 $ 93.48 $      +126.6 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 4.38 $ 3.10 $      -29.1 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.60 $ 3.00 $      +15.4 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 35.00 $ 29.19 $      -16.6 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 0.73 $ 1.26 $      +71.9 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 31,190.00 $ 33,500.00 $      +7.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 26,224.39 $ 26,560.53 $      +1.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 167.91 $ 214.53 $      +27.8 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 53.46 $ 63.85 $      +19.4 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 68.14 $ 71.81 $      +5.4 %
Sports And Leisure
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 60.88 $ 48.87 $      -19.7 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 16.67 $ 12.00 $      -28.0 %
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 1,356.82 $ 1,833.33 $      +35.1 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 21,305.56 $ 27,000.00 $      +26.7 %
Clothing And Shoes
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 53.77 $ 61.74 $      +14.8 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 44.50 $ 45.50 $      +2.2 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 88.27 $ 99.14 $      +12.3 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 116.57 $ 149.85 $      +28.5 %
Rent Per Month
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,132.08 $ 2,581.74 $      +21.1 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,432.21 $ 2,069.50 $      +44.5 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 3,954.76 $ 4,644.77 $      +17.4 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 2,646.46 $ 3,809.30 $      +43.9 %
Buy Apartment Price
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 402.95 $ 716.63 $      +77.8 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 307.91 $ 635.50 $      +106.4 %
Salaries And Financing
Austin, TX Edit Los Angeles, CA Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 4,860.91 $ 4,625.48 $      -4.8 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 6.53 6.63      +1.6 %
Last update: 4 November 20256 November 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:203253