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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,456 in Kennewick, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,427 in Kennewick, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,398 in Kennewick, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than Kennewick, WA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Kennewick, WA 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.13 $19.13

4.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$63.9 $63.9

19.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.92 $11.92

-15.02%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.53 $4.53

21.19%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.11 $2.11

28.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.91 $1.91

12.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.11 $6.11

-0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.14 $6.14

30.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.35 $3.35

-0.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.95 $3.95

-13.42%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.60 $3.60

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.52 $8.52

38.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.37 $11.37

-6.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.63 $13.63

6.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.61 $3.61

32.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.31 $1.31

14.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.34 $3.34

35.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.78 $2.78

45.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.36 $2.36

16.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.03 $2.03

37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.69 $1.69

20.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.26 $2.26

-4.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$10.02 $10.02

-7.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.06 $15.06

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.24 $2.24

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.57 $4.57

-22.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.93 $1.93

-21.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$12.39 $12.39

252.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.86 $3.86

11.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.96 $1.96

-7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$35.65 $35.65

-0.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.07 $1.07

-28.04%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$33.6K $33.6K

-23.77%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.00%

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

$172 $172

$152 $152

12.96%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$69.3 $69.3

-13.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$45.37 $45.37

48.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.75 $42.75

46.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.76 $9.76

50.92%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,824 $1,824

-23.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$19.4K $19.4K

12.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$52.8 $52.8

4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$47.41 $47.41

-3.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$82.0 $82.0

5.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$95.0 $95.0

21.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,411 $1,411

59.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,332 $1,332

5.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,075 $2,075

82.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,838 $1,838

47.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,808 $2,808

160.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,807 $2,807

18.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$4,381 $4,381

12.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.41

0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kennewick, WA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,411 in Kennewick, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 12% 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: $76 in Austin, TX vs $64 in Kennewick, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $345 per month, with Kennewick, WA 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 Kennewick, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kennewick, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kennewick, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 12% 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 $1,411 in Kennewick, 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 $2,456 in Kennewick, WA – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kennewick, WA runs roughly 252% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,456 in Kennewick, WA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kennewick, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kennewick, 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 Kennewick, 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 Kennewick, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.