City comparison
San Diego vs Austin Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and Austin (116.9).
San Diego Index
141.4
Austin Index
116.9
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Austin Rent
$2,675
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Austin Home price
$484,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Austin.
Equivalent salary in Austin
$96,728
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego and Austin.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Diego | Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 146 | -48.0 (-24.7%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 103 | -19.0 (-15.6%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 102 | -7.0 (-6.4%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 99 | -11.0 (-10.0%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 98 | -10.0 (-9.3%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 104 | -14.0 (-11.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $5,310
San Diego / Austin
Couple
$11,040 / $8,810
San Diego / Austin
Family
$15,560 / $12,430
San Diego / Austin
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
View Austin city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Austin.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.