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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.57 $16.57

18.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$71.6 $71.6

4.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.42 $12.42

-20.13%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.28 $5.28

7.39%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.86 $2.86

-3.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.97 $1.97

10.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.98 $4.98

17.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$12.02 $12.02

-35.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.11 $1.11

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.27 $4.27

-20.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.85 $4.85

-29.28%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.98 $4.98

-11.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$9.75 $9.75

22.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.06 $8.06

33.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$15.65 $15.65

-8.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.68 $2.68

80.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.69 $1.69

-8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.14 $5.14

-13.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.13 $5.13

-23.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.27 $3.27

-16.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.95 $1.95

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.98 $2.98

-24.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.81 $10.81

-17.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$18.64 $18.64

-20.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$6.39 $6.39

-44.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.67 $2.67

60.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.72 $0.72

155.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$30.02 $30.02

18.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.06 $1.06

-32.08%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$36.4K $36.4K

-29.32%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

10.72%

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

$174 $174

$213 $213

-18.41%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$50.8 $50.8

18.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$44.74 $44.74

48.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$33.49 $33.49

87.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.03 $15.03

1.40%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$2,083 $2,083

-33.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

-28.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$37.38 $37.38

51.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$40.69 $40.69

11.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$71.9 $71.9

20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$102 $102

16.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,304 $1,304

72.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,217 $1,217

17.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,497 $2,497

51.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,021 $2,021

30.68%

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)

$5,108 $5,108

$5,830 $5,830

-12.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.85

32.99%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,304 in Arlington, WA. 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $72.0 in Arlington, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $397, 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

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

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

On paper, Arlington, WA earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,304 in Arlington, WA. 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 $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,364 in Arlington, WA – 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.