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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,794 in Bellingham, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $4,183 in Bellingham, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,572 in Bellingham, WA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Bellingham, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Bellingham, WA 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$20.12 $20.12

-0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$86.5 $86.5

-11.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$13.16 $13.16

-23.02%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.20 $5.20

5.58%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.53 $2.53

7.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.01 $2.01

6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.01 $7.01

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.88 $5.88

36.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.66 $3.66

-8.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.23 $4.23

-19.15%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.34 $4.34

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$17.09 $17.09

-30.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$15.77 $15.77

-32.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.20 $15.20

-4.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.79 $5.79

-17.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.56 $1.56

-3.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.27 $4.27

5.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.22 $5.22

-22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.93 $2.93

-5.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.19 $2.19

27.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.09 $2.09

-2.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.53 $2.53

-15.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.44 $12.44

-25.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.27 $15.27

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.76 $1.76

30.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.79 $4.79

-26.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.98 $0.98

55.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$30.34 $30.34

43.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$9.90 $9.90

-56.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.72 $1.72

5.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$53.1 $53.1

-33.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.16 $1.16

-33.62%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$34.4K $34.4K

-25.46%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.26%

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

$172 $172

$180 $180

-4.23%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.3 $52.3

15.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$74.8 $74.8

-10.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$68.1 $68.1

-7.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$18.35 $18.35

-19.73%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,445 $1,445

-3.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.8K $23.8K

-8.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$52.2 $52.2

5.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$27.95 $27.95

63.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$96.7 $96.7

-10.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$149 $149

-22.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,697 $1,697

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,441 $1,441

-2.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,732 $2,732

38.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,448 $2,448

10.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$3,994 $3,994

82.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$4,075 $4,075

-18.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,156 $4,156

18.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Bellingham, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,697 in Bellingham, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $87 in Bellingham, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $439 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Bellingham, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,697 in Bellingham, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,794 in Bellingham, WA – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 44% less than in Bellingham, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Bellingham, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bellingham, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.