Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Moses Lake, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Moses Lake, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,232 in Moses Lake, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,236 in Moses Lake, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,241 in Moses Lake, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 19% more expensive than Moses Lake, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Moses Lake, WA 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.56 $16.56

18.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$71.7 $71.7

4.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$7.34 $7.34

35.15%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.09 $4.09

38.63%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.94 $2.94

-5.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.97 $0.97

123.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.03 $4.03

44.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.91 $7.91

-1.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.00 $1.00

9.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.88 $4.88

-30.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.83 $3.83

-10.44%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.20 $3.20

37.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.99 $10.99

8.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.08 $10.08

6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$13.54 $13.54

5.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.25 $6.25

-22.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.74 $1.74

-10.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.50 $5.50

-18.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.96 $5.96

-34.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.16 $3.16

-13.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.80 $3.80

-27.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.68 $2.68

-23.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.05 $2.05

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.36 $11.36

-21.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.30 $15.30

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.82 $1.82

29.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.33 $3.33

7.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.03 $2.03

-27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.48 $2.48

72.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.58 $1.58

16.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.87 $29.87

18.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.07 $1.07

-32.71%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

-18.68%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.21%

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

$174 $174

$157 $157

10.73%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$59.7 $59.7

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$74.7 $74.7

-11.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.31 $42.31

48.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.58 $15.58

-2.18%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$247 $247

461.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$29.9K $29.9K

-25.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$49.91 $49.91

13.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$24.95 $24.95

81.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$48.18 $48.18

79.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$79.9 $79.9

49.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,281 $1,281

75.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,118 $1,118

27.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,800 $1,800

109.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,670 $1,670

58.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,697 $2,697

161.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,760 $2,760

14.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$9,015 $9,015

-43.34%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Moses Lake, WA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,281 in Moses Lake, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moses Lake, WA pays 76% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $72.0 in Moses Lake, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $403, 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 Moses Lake, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moses Lake, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Moses Lake, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Moses Lake, WA earns 76% 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 $1,281 in Moses Lake, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $247 in Moses Lake, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Moses Lake, WA – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,232 in Moses Lake, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Moses Lake, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Moses Lake, 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.

Expats usually find Moses Lake, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.