Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Jose, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Jose, CA is 24.7% higher than in Austin, TX (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Jose, CA is 35.3% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Rent Prices in San Jose, CA are 54.9% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Jose, CA are 16.4% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Groceries Prices in San Jose, CA are 18.7% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Jose, CA is 13.8% lower than in Austin, TX | |
Restaurants | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 | $24.50 | +22.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $80.00 | $95.00 | +18.8 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $12.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $7.00 | $9.00 | +28.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $8.00 | $10.50 | +31.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.37 | $5.78 | +7.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.21 | $3.44 | +7.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.07 | $2.50 | +21.0 % |
Markets | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.00 | $1.69 | +69.2 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.36 | $4.34 | +29.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $1.69 | $1.98 | +17.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $4.39 | $5.63 | +28.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $5.71 | $9.86 | +72.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $6.03 | $5.86 | -2.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $7.52 | $10.12 | +34.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.48 | $2.63 | +6.2 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.74 | $0.98 | +32.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.26 | $2.24 | -0.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.27 | $2.50 | +9.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.59 | $1.48 | -7.2 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.37 | $1.40 | +2.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.05 | $2.40 | +17.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.44 | $2.60 | +6.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 | $15.30 | +2.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $3.04 | $2.40 | -20.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.55 | $3.43 | -3.5 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $9.75 | $11.71 | +20.1 % |
Transportation | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $1.75 | $2.50 | +42.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $41.25 | $90.00 | +118.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $2.75 | $3.50 | +27.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.60 | $4.83 | +85.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $35.00 | $30.00 | -14.3 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.81 | $1.32 | +63.5 % |
| 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 | $25,963.92 | -3.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $203.39 | $267.20 | +31.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $57.57 | $52.03 | -9.6 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $67.85 | $73.43 | +8.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $64.64 | $135.00 | +108.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $18.00 | $24.57 | +36.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $15.00 | $17.50 | +16.7 % |
Childcare | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $1,446.81 | $1,822.00 | +25.9 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $21,190.62 | $39,800.00 | +87.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $53.60 | $59.81 | +11.6 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $43.92 | $51.33 | +16.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $84.40 | $100.40 | +19.0 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $112.27 | $119.91 | +6.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $1,969.50 | $3,163.08 | +60.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,387.67 | $2,746.00 | +97.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $3,744.12 | $4,787.50 | +27.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,574.71 | $4,290.00 | +66.6 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $674.38 | $879.73 | +30.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $300.63 | $905.49 | +201.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $4,982.35 | $5,808.61 | +16.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.60 | 6.28 | -5.0 % |
| Last update: | 11 May 2026 | 4 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 127 | 53 | |
Moving to Austin, TX? Explore:
Moving to San Jose, 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 Jose, CA: | Cost of Living in Fremont, California | 17.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 40.44 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, California | 47.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Monterey, California | 72.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Stockton, California | 77.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Modesto, California | 86.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santa Rosa, California | 98.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sacramento, California | 116.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arden-Arcade, California | 132.18 miles |
| Cost of Living in El Dorado Hills, California | 145.59 miles |