Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Maple Valley, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Maple Valley, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,567 in Maple Valley, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $3,727 in Maple Valley, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $4,886 in Maple Valley, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than in Maple Valley, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Maple Valley, WA 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$17.51 $17.51

13.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$67.8 $67.8

23.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$10.61 $10.61

15.65%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.63 $4.63

21.60%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$1.01 $1.01

255.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.63 $1.63

46.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$3.96 $3.96

97.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.11 $7.11

27.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.12 $1.12

1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.43 $4.43

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.08 $3.08

7.47%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.13 $5.13

-13.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$17.71 $17.71

-26.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$10.74 $10.74

36.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$16.74 $16.74

4.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.20 $5.20

-11.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.57 $1.57

-7.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.90 $3.90

22.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.60 $4.60

7.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.73 $2.73

10.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.49 $2.49

10.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.40 $2.40

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.38 $2.38

-7.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$12.51 $12.51

-25.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.29 $15.29

-2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.47 $2.47

16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.42 $2.42

48.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.85 $1.85

-10.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$47.35 $47.35

-11.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.95 $2.95

-4.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.82 $1.82

-12.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$28.08 $28.08

23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.31 $1.31

-27.48%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.8K $36.8K

-2.94%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

5.24%

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

$229 $229

$121 $121

89.76%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$71.3 $71.3

-17.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$89.2 $89.2

-22.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$40.97 $40.97

60.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$20.35 $20.35

-27.52%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.07 $12.07

14.83%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,450 $1,450

3.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$33.1K $33.1K

-36.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$44.42 $44.42

20.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$55.1 $55.1

-19.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$89.4 $89.4

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$100 $100

8.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,705 $1,705

13.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,193 $1,193

6.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,506 $2,506

50.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,995 $1,995

30.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,816 $2,816

160.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,733 $2,733

18.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.27

2.71%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Maple Valley, WA: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,705 in Maple Valley, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $68.0 in Maple Valley, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $419, with Austin, TX 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 Maple Valley, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

You'd need roughly $3,969 in Austin, TX and $3,851 in Maple Valley, WA 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,705 in Maple Valley, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,567 in Maple Valley, WA – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Maple Valley, WA runs roughly 13% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Maple Valley, WA 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 Maple Valley, 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 Maple Valley, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.