Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and San Jose, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Jose, CA is 30.8% higher than in Austin, TX (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Jose, CA is 37.2% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Rent Prices in San Jose, CA are 47.7% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Jose, CA are 17.9% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Groceries Prices in San Jose, CA are 31.3% higher than in Austin, TX | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Jose, CA is 16.0% lower than in Austin, TX | |
Restaurants | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 20.00 $ | 23.00 $ | +15.0 % |
| 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 $ | 12.00 $ | +9.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 6.00 $ | 8.50 $ | +41.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 8.00 $ | 11.00 $ | +37.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.33 $ | 5.74 $ | +7.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.93 $ | 3.36 $ | +14.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.20 $ | 2.33 $ | +6.1 % |
Markets | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 0.96 $ | 1.48 $ | +55.1 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.09 $ | 4.20 $ | +35.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.54 $ | 1.98 $ | +28.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 5.24 $ | 5.16 $ | -1.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 5.69 $ | 9.29 $ | +63.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.59 $ | 5.86 $ | +4.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 6.74 $ | 10.12 $ | +50.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.17 $ | 2.56 $ | +17.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.72 $ | 0.90 $ | +25.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.78 $ | 2.64 $ | +47.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1.70 $ | 2.69 $ | +58.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.28 $ | 1.81 $ | +42.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.19 $ | 1.73 $ | +45.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 1.93 $ | 2.67 $ | +38.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.20 $ | 2.68 $ | +22.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 $ | 15.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.72 $ | 2.50 $ | -7.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.40 $ | 3.88 $ | +14.2 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 9.46 $ | 11.50 $ | +21.6 % |
Transportation | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 1.38 $ | 2.50 $ | +81.8 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 41.25 $ | 90.00 $ | +118.2 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 2.50 $ | 3.50 $ | +40.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.60 $ | 4.83 $ | +85.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 32.50 $ | 30.00 $ | -7.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.73 $ | 1.27 $ | +73.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 36,232.00 $ | 36,998.00 $ | +2.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 26,042.96 $ | 26,178.68 $ | +0.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 181.77 $ | 265.66 $ | +46.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 51.56 $ | 50.27 $ | -2.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 68.12 $ | 72.31 $ | +6.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 62.82 $ | 108.62 $ | +72.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 14.50 $ | 25.25 $ | +74.1 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 15.00 $ | 16.00 $ | +6.7 % |
Childcare | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,376.39 $ | 1,781.69 $ | +29.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 21,675.00 $ | 39,800.00 $ | +83.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 53.77 $ | 57.38 $ | +6.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 44.50 $ | 48.73 $ | +9.5 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 88.27 $ | 91.17 $ | +3.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 114.00 $ | 118.69 $ | +4.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,158.07 $ | 3,038.00 $ | +40.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,388.33 $ | 2,575.83 $ | +85.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,960.95 $ | 4,936.36 $ | +24.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,597.29 $ | 4,370.00 $ | +68.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 642.73 $ | 876.38 $ | +36.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 286.99 $ | 916.99 $ | +219.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Austin, TX Edit |
San Jose, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,938.95 $ | 5,689.39 $ | +15.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.32 | 6.47 | +2.4 % |
| Last update: | 7 January 2026 | 9 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 108 | 46 | |
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 |