Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,515 per month in Arlington, VA vs $2,706 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,406 per month in Arlington, VA vs $4,169 in Austin, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,298 per month in Arlington, VA vs $5,633 in Austin, TX, rent included.

Arlington, VA costs about 30% more than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arlington, VA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Arlington, VA by 163%, Austin, TX by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.01 $24.01

$19.70 $19.70

21.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.1 $89.1

$76.0 $76.0

17.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$9.86 $9.86

20.79%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.48 $5.48

2.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.65 $2.65

7.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.09 $2.09

21.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.09 $6.09

32.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.85 $8.85

$8.15 $8.15

8.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.10 $1.10

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.39 $3.39

23.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$3.38 $3.38

109.47%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.39 $4.39

0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$12.10 $12.10

45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.33 $15.33

$10.84 $10.84

41.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.72 $21.72

$14.68 $14.68

47.96%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$4.96 $4.96

26.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.51 $1.51

36.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.40 $4.40

16.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.10 $4.10

41.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.81 $2.81

22.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.87 $2.87

17.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.95 $1.95

36.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.18 $2.18

11.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.45 $12.45

$8.99 $8.99

38.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.87 $16.87

$15.11 $15.11

11.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.33 $2.33

-15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.43 $3.43

23.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.54 $1.54

133.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$126 $126

$44.15 $44.15

185.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$4.41 $4.41

-30.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.83 $1.83

-14.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.02 $22.02

$34.65 $34.65

-36.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.78 $0.78

10.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K $30.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

16.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$206 $206

$175 $175

17.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.0 $59.0

$59.7 $59.7

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$65.5 $65.5

7.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.2 $76.2

$61.3 $61.3

24.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.71 $23.71

$9.89 $9.89

139.74%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$14.76 $14.76

1.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,114 $2,114

$1,372 $1,372

54.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K $40.0K

$22.2K $22.2K

80.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$56.5 $56.5

-2.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 $51.1

$45.29 $45.29

12.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.4 $93.4

$85.0 $85.0

9.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$118 $118

19.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,516 $2,516

$2,201 $2,201

14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 $1,890

$1,403 $1,403

34.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,298 $4,298

$3,815 $3,815

12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,493 $3,493

$2,680 $2,680

30.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,364 $6,364

$7,133 $7,133

-10.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 $5,027

$3,078 $3,078

63.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,694 $6,694

$5,110 $5,110

30.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.45

1.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arlington, VA: July 14, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,516 in Arlington, VA versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Arlington, VA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Arlington, VA versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $497 vs $379 – making Austin, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arlington, VA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington, VA costs about 30% more than Austin, TX, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,272 per month in Arlington, VA and $4,059 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Austin, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Arlington, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Arlington, VA and $76.0 in Austin, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,515 in Arlington, VA and $2,706 in Austin, TX. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Austin, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Austin, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arlington, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.