Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chevy Chase, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chevy Chase, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,770 in Chevy Chase, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $4,040 in Chevy Chase, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $5,310 in Chevy Chase, MD.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in Chevy Chase, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Chevy Chase, MD 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$19.64 $19.64

0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$81.0 $81.0

-6.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$13.80 $13.80

-28.55%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.76 $5.76

-4.86%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.76 $2.76

-3.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.28 $2.28

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.04 $6.04

0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.92 $7.92

2.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.96 $0.96

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.08 $3.08

10.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$6.16 $6.16

-45.13%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.81 $4.81

-8.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$18.70 $18.70

-35.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.14 $10.14

6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$16.62 $16.62

-11.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.27 $5.27

-5.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.76 $1.76

-14.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$7.13 $7.13

-38.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$6.71 $6.71

-38.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.46 $3.46

-18.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.77 $2.77

3.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.31 $2.31

-15.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.49 $2.49

-12.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$10.54 $10.54

-14.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.01 $14.01

7.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.70 $2.70

-13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.91 $4.91

-30.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.02 $2.02

-23.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.52 $3.52

25.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.41 $1.41

29.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.04 $29.04

19.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.83 $0.83

-6.02%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-11.82%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.68%

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

$175 $175

$206 $206

-15.14%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$64.2 $64.2

-6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$73.1 $73.1

-10.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$42.36 $42.36

44.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.96 $14.96

-1.34%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,765 $1,765

-22.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$20.2K $20.2K

10.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$53.8 $53.8

5.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$62.0 $62.0

-26.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$96.4 $96.4

-11.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$196 $196

-39.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,611 $1,611

36.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,332 $1,332

5.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,632 $2,632

44.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,251 $2,251

19.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,542 $2,542

180.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,077 $2,077

48.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chevy Chase, MD: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,611 in Chevy Chase, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Chevy Chase, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $446 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 Chevy Chase, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Chevy Chase, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,059 in Austin, TX and $4,154 in Chevy Chase, MD to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,611 in Chevy Chase, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,765 in Chevy Chase, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $81.0 in Chevy Chase, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Chevy Chase, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.