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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,695 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,527 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,184 per month in Austin, TX vs $5,438 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,674 per month in Austin, TX vs $7,348 in Arlington, VA, rent included.

Austin, TX is about 24% cheaper than Arlington, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Austin, TX and Arlington, VA sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 96%, Arlington, VA by 157%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$23.93 $23.93

-17.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$100.0 $100.0

-16.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.04 $11.04

11.41%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.89 $5.89

-6.96%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$3.01 $3.01

23.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.52 $2.52

-6.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.89 $7.89

-1.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$8.79 $8.79

3.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.21 $1.21

-6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.55 $4.55

-17.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.29 $5.29

-35.16%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.28 $5.28

-17.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$21.35 $21.35

-38.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$15.57 $15.57

-7.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$23.09 $23.09

-25.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.55 $5.55

-19.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.87 $1.87

-22.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.56 $4.56

2.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.88 $5.88

-15.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.20 $3.20

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.73 $3.73

-27.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.28 $2.28

-18.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.45 $2.45

-11.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.65 $10.65

-11.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$17.06 $17.06

-11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.78 $2.78

3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.94 $2.94

18.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.79 $2.79

-41.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

$122 $122

-66.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.08 $4.08

-31.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.23 $1.23

28.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$24.72 $24.72

42.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.6K $34.6K

3.54%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.7K $24.7K

12.09%

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

$222 $222

$161 $161

37.89%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$52.4 $52.4

11.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$61.8 $61.8

11.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$71.1 $71.1

-6.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$19.11 $19.11

-22.76%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$16.49 $16.49

-16.43%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,613 $1,613

-5.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$36.7K $36.7K

-42.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$56.0 $56.0

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$62.6 $62.6

-29.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$104 $104

-13.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$160 $160

-32.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$2,456 $2,456

-20.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,997 $1,997

-37.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$4,777 $4,777

-21.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$3,604 $3,604

-28.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$6,153 $6,153

20.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$4,908 $4,908

-34.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$6,734 $6,734

-24.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.27

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arlington, VA: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $2,456 in Arlington, VA. 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 32% 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 $84.0 in Austin, TX versus $100 in Arlington, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $507 – 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

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

Arlington, VA costs about 31% 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 $4,042 per month in Austin, TX and $5,291 in Arlington, VA. 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 22% 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 $84.0 in Austin, TX and $100 in Arlington, VA. 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 $2,695 in Austin, TX and $3,527 in Arlington, VA. 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.