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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,364 in Arlington, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,507 in Arlington, WA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,651 in Arlington, WA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Arlington, WA costs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, WA 76% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.57 $16.57

$19.63 $19.63

-15.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.6 $71.6

$75.1 $75.1

-4.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.42 $12.42

$9.92 $9.92

25.20%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$5.67 $5.67

-6.88%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$2.77 $2.77

3.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.17 $2.17

-9.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$5.84 $5.84

-14.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.02 $12.02

$7.77 $7.77

54.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.09 $1.09

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.41 $3.41

25.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$3.43 $3.43

41.40%

Eggs

$4.98 $4.98

$4.39 $4.39

13.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 $9.75

$11.95 $11.95

-18.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.06 $8.06

$10.76 $10.76

-25.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$14.29 $14.29

9.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.84 $4.84

-44.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.55 $1.55

9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.46 $4.46

15.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.91 $3.91

31.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.74 $2.74

19.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.74 $2.74

4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.04 $2.04

-4.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.25 $2.25

32.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 $10.81

$8.93 $8.93

21.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.64 $18.64

$14.85 $14.85

25.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.57 $3.57

78.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.47 $1.47

32.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.28 $4.28

-37.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.84 $1.84

-60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.02 $30.02

$35.54 $35.54

-15.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.72 $0.72

47.22%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

41.48%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-9.68%

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

$213 $213

$174 $174

22.57%

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

$50.8 $50.8

$60.2 $60.2

-15.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.74 $44.74

$66.3 $66.3

-32.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.49 $33.49

$62.8 $62.8

-46.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$15.24 $15.24

-1.38%

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

$2,083 $2,083

$1,387 $1,387

50.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$22.2K $22.2K

40.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.38 $37.38

$56.7 $56.7

-34.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.69 $40.69

$45.34 $45.34

-10.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 $71.9

$86.5 $86.5

-16.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$119 $119

-14.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 $1,304

$2,247 $2,247

-41.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 $1,217

$1,430 $1,430

-14.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 $2,497

$3,778 $3,778

-33.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 $2,021

$2,641 $2,641

-23.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,830 $5,830

$5,108 $5,108

14.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.45

-24.81%

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

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 2, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,304 in Arlington, WA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $72.0 in Arlington, WA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $397 vs $377, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

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

Arlington, WA and Austin, TX differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,364 vs $2,659 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Arlington, WA pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,304 in Arlington, WA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,364 per month in Arlington, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,364 in Arlington, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Arlington, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Arlington, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Arlington, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.