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: $2,510 in Arlington, WA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,945 in Arlington, WA versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,380 in Arlington, WA versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Arlington, WA costs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Arlington, WA 83% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$19.82 $19.82

25.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$83.9 $83.9

20.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$12.30 $12.30

-4.15%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$5.48 $5.48

-1.09%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.72 $3.72

-17.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.36 $2.36

-15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$7.76 $7.76

-34.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$9.14 $9.14

-33.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.13 $1.13

-7.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.75 $3.75

-3.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.43 $3.43

23.32%

Eggs

$6.19 $6.19

$4.35 $4.35

42.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.14 $13.14

-22.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$14.39 $14.39

-42.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$17.20 $17.20

-8.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.49 $4.49

-40.09%

Banana (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.44 $1.44

114.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.67 $4.67

16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.71 $6.71

$4.97 $4.97

35.01%

Potato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.00 $3.00

48.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.69 $2.69

33.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.85 $1.85

38.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.18 $2.18

41.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.20 $13.20

$9.45 $9.45

39.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.92 $17.92

$15.11 $15.11

18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.89 $2.89

-39.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 $5.76

$3.49 $3.49

65.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 $10.12

$2.81 $2.81

260.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.90 $0.90

27.78%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$35.9K $35.9K

0.86%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$27.7K $27.7K

-13.29%

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

$216 $216

$222 $222

-2.62%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$58.3 $58.3

-12.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.22 $45.22

$69.1 $69.1

-34.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.16 $33.16

$66.2 $66.2

-49.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$16.68 $16.68

$13.78 $13.78

21.04%

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

$1,148 $1,148

$1,526 $1,526

-24.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.95 $37.95

$54.6 $54.6

-30.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 $28.98

$44.01 $44.01

-34.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.45 $45.45

$89.7 $89.7

-49.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 $79.6

$109 $109

-26.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,541 $1,541

$1,942 $1,942

-20.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 $1,303

$1,258 $1,258

3.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,800 $2,800

$3,762 $3,762

-25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,467 $2,467

$2,592 $2,592

-4.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,715 $5,715

$5,085 $5,085

12.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.44

-24.69%

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

Last update for Arlington, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,541 in Arlington, WA and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $101 in Arlington, WA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $417 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 7% in total monthly costs ($2,510 vs $2,695 including rent). Arlington, WA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Arlington, WA, 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: $1,541 in Arlington, WA versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,510 per month in Arlington, WA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Arlington, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.