Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Francisco, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA is 38.6% higher than in Austin, TX (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Francisco, CA is 50.4% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Rent Prices in San Francisco, CA are 72.1% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Francisco, CA are 38.0% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Groceries Prices in San Francisco, CA are 37.8% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Francisco, CA is 1.8% lower than in Austin, TX | |
Restaurants | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 | $26.50 | +32.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $80.00 | $140.00 | +75.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $15.00 | +25.0 % |
| 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) | $5.37 | $5.78 | +7.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.21 | $3.25 | +1.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.07 | $2.97 | +43.9 % |
Markets | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.00 | $1.67 | +67.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.36 | $5.47 | +63.1 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $1.69 | $2.80 | +66.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $4.39 | $6.61 | +50.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $5.71 | $10.82 | +89.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $6.03 | $7.74 | +28.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $7.52 | $10.48 | +39.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.48 | $3.09 | +24.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.74 | $1.25 | +68.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.26 | $2.17 | -3.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.27 | $3.48 | +53.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.59 | $1.56 | -2.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.37 | $1.90 | +38.1 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.05 | $3.25 | +58.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.44 | $3.00 | +23.1 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 | $17.00 | +13.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $3.04 | $3.09 | +1.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.55 | $3.73 | +5.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $9.75 | $13.00 | +33.3 % |
Transportation | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $1.75 | $3.00 | +71.4 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $41.25 | $90.00 | +118.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $2.75 | $4.15 | +50.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.60 | $3.27 | +25.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $35.00 | $39.00 | +11.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.81 | $1.37 | +70.0 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $35,616.00 | $36,998.00 | +3.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $26,928.76 | $25,897.85 | -3.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $203.39 | $216.73 | +6.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $57.57 | $66.90 | +16.2 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $67.85 | $73.59 | +8.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $64.64 | $131.59 | +103.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $18.00 | $22.86 | +27.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $15.00 | $18.00 | +20.0 % |
Childcare | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $1,446.81 | $2,966.26 | +105.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $21,190.62 | $42,000.00 | +98.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $53.60 | $78.00 | +45.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $43.92 | $49.55 | +12.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $84.40 | $108.75 | +28.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $112.27 | $127.95 | +14.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $1,969.50 | $3,516.22 | +78.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,387.67 | $2,677.18 | +92.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $3,744.12 | $5,728.00 | +53.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,574.71 | $4,734.00 | +83.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $674.38 | $1,002.82 | +48.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $300.63 | $885.10 | +194.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Austin, TX Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $4,939.64 | $7,294.17 | +47.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.70 | 6.51 | -2.7 % |
| Last update: | 12 May 2026 | 13 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 128 | 137 | |
Moving to Austin, TX? Explore:
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near Austin, TX: | Cost of Living in Seguin, Texas | 65.28 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Antonio, Texas | 79.89 miles |
| Cost of Living in Waco, Texas | 101.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kerrville, Texas | 102.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in College Station, Texas | 106.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Houston, Texas | 163.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kingwood, Texas | 175.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in DeSoto, Texas | 183.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in De Soto, Texas | 183.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fort Worth, Texas | 187.07 miles |
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 miles |