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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $3,056 in Bothell, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,690 in Bothell, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $6,324 in Bothell, WA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 13% less than in Bothell, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Bothell, WA 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$20.71 $20.71

-5.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$102 $102

-26.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.14 $14.14

-29.84%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.88 $5.88

-3.57%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.34 $3.34

-17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.47 $2.47

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.83 $6.83

-14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.89 $7.89

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.22 $1.22

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.75 $3.75

-9.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.22 $5.22

-34.29%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$6.54 $6.54

-32.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$17.16 $17.16

-30.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.07 $11.07

-2.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.52 $16.52

-13.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.56 $6.56

-26.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.92 $1.92

-19.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.34 $5.34

-16.48%

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

$2.77 $2.77

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.03 $2.03

0.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.64 $2.64

-14.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.44 $11.44

-21.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.97 $12.97

14.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.98 $2.98

-21.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.16 $4.16

-14.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.78 $2.78

-47.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$97.9 $97.9

-56.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.62 $2.62

63.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.66 $1.66

10.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.54 $29.54

20.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.13 $1.13

-36.28%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.7K $32.7K

-21.42%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.36%

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

$174 $174

$154 $154

13.04%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$59.9 $59.9

0.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$79.7 $79.7

-16.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$59.4 $59.4

5.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$14.77 $14.77

3.18%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,473 $1,473

-5.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$29.8K $29.8K

-25.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$52.2 $52.2

8.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$52.2 $52.2

-13.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$116 $116

-25.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$140 $140

-15.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,920 $1,920

17.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,579 $1,579

-9.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$3,283 $3,283

15.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,932 $2,932

-9.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$5,857 $5,857

20.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$4,813 $4,813

-34.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$6,254 $6,254

-18.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.46

-0.15%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bothell, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,920 in Bothell, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bothell, WA pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $102 in Bothell, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $449 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 Bothell, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Bothell, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bothell, WA earns 22% 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 $1,920 in Bothell, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,056 in Bothell, WA – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 128% less than in Bothell, 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 Bothell, 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 15% less than in Bothell, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.