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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Arlington, VA is 28.7% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 29% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Arlington, VA is 25.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.03 $24.03
$19.50 $19.50
23.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.5 $89.5
$75.3 $75.3
18.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 $11.94
$9.88 $9.88
20.85%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$5.74 $5.74
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.78 $2.78
2.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.13 $2.13
24.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 $8.12
$6.11 $6.11
32.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.74 $8.74
$7.86 $7.86
11.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.09 $1.09
9.17%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.44 $3.44
20.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.77 $6.77
$3.31 $3.31
104.53%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$4.29 $4.29
-1.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.88 $17.88
$11.98 $11.98
49.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.80 $14.80
$10.74 $10.74
37.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.99 $20.99
$14.79 $14.79
41.92%
Apples (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$5.00 $5.00
27.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.49 $1.49
38.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.08 $5.08
$4.43 $4.43
14.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$3.95 $3.95
43.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.75 $2.75
25.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.73 $2.73
17.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.04 $2.04
26.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.26 $2.26
12.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.42 $12.42
$9.09 $9.09
36.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.05 $17.05
$14.99 $14.99
13.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.35 $2.35
-14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 $4.28
$3.54 $3.54
20.90%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.49 $1.49
129.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$124 $124
$44.05 $44.05
181.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$4.47 $4.47
-30.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.76 $1.76
-14.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.89 $21.89
$34.44 $34.44
-36.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.74 $0.74
24.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K $30.6K
$25.6K $25.6K
19.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.7K $26.7K
-5.09%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 $208
$172 $172
20.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$59.3 $59.3
-1.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5 $70.5
$66.5 $66.5
6.11%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.4 $78.4
$63.1 $63.1
24.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.43 $23.43
$10.17 $10.17
130.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$15.28 $15.28
-2.62%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,070 $2,070
$1,406 $1,406
47.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.3K $40.3K
$22.0K $22.0K
83.54%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 $57.2
$56.4 $56.4
1.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 $50.2
$45.72 $45.72
9.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$86.0 $86.0
8.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$118 $118
19.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,445 $2,445
$2,196 $2,196
11.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,913 $1,913
$1,434 $1,434
33.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
$3,878 $3,878
13.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,564 $3,564
$2,610 $2,610
36.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,683 $5,683
$7,228 $7,228
-21.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,570 $4,570
$3,282 $3,282
39.22%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Arlington, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,205 $6,205
$4,984 $4,984
24.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.45
1.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arlington, VA: April 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 13, 2026

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

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