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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 20% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 24.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Austin, TX is 19.3% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 24.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$24.54 $24.54
-19.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$88.5 $88.5
-13.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$11.84 $11.84
-15.96%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.41 $5.41
3.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.93 $2.93
-9.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.5 $2.5
-12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$8.02 $8.02
-27.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$8.82 $8.82
-10.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.24 $1.24
-8.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.1 $4.1
-19.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$6.81 $6.81
-48.60%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.32 $4.32
1.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$17.79 $17.79
-32.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$14.75 $14.75
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$21.38 $21.38
-31.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.26 $6.26
-22.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.06 $2.06
-26.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.22 $5.22
-13.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.71 $5.71
-31.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.44 $3.44
-20.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.39 $3.39
-18.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.65 $2.65
-24.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.45 $2.45
-11.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$12.3 $12.3
-27.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$17.17 $17.17
-12.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.03 $2.03
15.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$4.29 $4.29
-19.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$3.43 $3.43
-56.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$125 $125
-65.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$3.02 $3.02
42.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.59 $1.59
14.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$21.75 $21.75
59.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.91 $0.91
-19.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$29.6K $29.6K
-13.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26K $26K
1.04%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$205 $205
-13.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$59.8 $59.8
-1.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$69.9 $69.9
-7.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$76.7 $76.7
-18.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$23.96 $23.96
-57.55%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.84 $14.84
-0.81%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$2,074 $2,074
-33.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$39.4K $39.4K
-43.17%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$55.9 $55.9
0.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$49.48 $49.48
-6.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$92.6 $92.6
-6.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$141 $141
-15.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,473 $2,473
-11.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$1,930 $1,930
-27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$4,350 $4,350
-10.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$3,575 $3,575
-24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,644 $4,644
-4.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$4,073 $4,073
-22.39%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$6,454 $6,454
-24.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.55
-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

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