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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $1,851 in Ellensburg, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $2,939 in Ellensburg, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,028 in Ellensburg, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 46% more expensive than in Ellensburg, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Ellensburg, WA 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.29 $15.29

30.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$101 $101

-26.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.02 $12.02

-18.05%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.21 $5.21

11.13%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.47 $1.47

87.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.27 $1.27

70.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.88 $4.88

22.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.92 $7.92

2.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.07 $1.07

2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.70 $2.70

21.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.86 $4.86

-30.66%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.30 $4.30

0.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$15.21 $15.21

-20.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$6.74 $6.74

56.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$13.94 $13.94

4.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.79 $3.79

32.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.14 $1.14

37.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.35 $4.35

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.10 $4.10

-0.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.49 $1.49

85.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.25 $2.25

25.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.97 $1.97

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.70 $1.70

31.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$8.12 $8.12

7.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.73 $15.73

-6.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.96 $2.96

-20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.48 $2.48

39.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.04 $2.04

-25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.64 $2.64

63.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.72 $1.72

4.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$30.35 $30.35

16.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.03 $1.03

-22.33%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.3K $32.3K

-20.43%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.76%

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

$173 $173

$127 $127

36.16%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$40.11 $40.11

45.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.9 $69.9

-3.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$25.35 $25.35

143.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$16.17 $16.17

-8.47%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$2,287 $2,287

-38.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$29.4K $29.4K

-24.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$44.31 $44.31

23.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$35.46 $35.46

31.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$93.1 $93.1

-5.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$118 $118

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$963 $963

128.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$797 $797

79.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,871 $1,871

101.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,506 $1,506

79.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$4,442 $4,442

65.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$4,513 $4,513

-30.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$1,802 $1,802

182.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.42

0.47%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $963 in Ellensburg, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 183% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Ellensburg, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $348, with Ellensburg, WA 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 Ellensburg, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ellensburg, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ellensburg, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 183% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $963 in Ellensburg, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $2,287 in Ellensburg, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ellensburg, WA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,851 in Ellensburg, WA versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ellensburg, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ellensburg, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.