Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Vernon, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,825 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,993 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $5,160 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 4% less than in Mount Vernon, WA, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Mount Vernon, WA 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.47 $16.47

21.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$60.4 $60.4

26.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.68 $12.68

-20.11%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.52 $5.52

-0.54%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.13 $2.13

27.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.71 $1.71

25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.57 $7.57

-19.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$11.81 $11.81

-31.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.16 $1.16

-6.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.15 $4.15

-19.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$8.14 $8.14

-57.99%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.94 $4.94

-12.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.87 $10.87

8.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$6.58 $6.58

62.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$8.58 $8.58

69.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.15 $5.15

-6.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.66 $1.66

-9.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.36 $4.36

3.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.00 $5.00

-19.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.28 $3.28

-15.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.94 $1.94

43.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.94 $1.94

5.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.97 $1.97

9.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$6.10 $6.10

51.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$15.05 $15.05

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.78 $1.78

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.54 $2.54

38.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$30.05 $30.05

45.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.66 $2.66

61.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.63 $1.63

11.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.80 $29.80

19.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.11 $1.11

-30.63%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.0K $25.0K

2.36%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$21.0K $21.0K

25.11%

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

$172 $172

$230 $230

-25.11%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.53 $45.53

32.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$77.0 $77.0

-12.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.27 $43.27

45.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.97 $14.97

-1.60%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$2,109 $2,109

-33.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$32.1K $32.1K

-32.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.38 $43.38

27.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$43.91 $43.91

3.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$56.8 $56.8

52.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$80.3 $80.3

43.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,646 $1,646

36.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,601 $1,601

-12.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,705 $2,705

39.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,463 $2,463

9.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$3,955 $3,955

84.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$4,066 $4,066

-18.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,766 $3,766

30.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.38

1.10%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Mount Vernon, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,646 in Mount Vernon, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $60 in Mount Vernon, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $364 per month, with Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Mount Vernon, WA differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($2,719 vs $2,825 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Austin, TX pays 30% 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 $1,646 in Mount Vernon, 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 $2,825 in Mount Vernon, WA – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 45% less than in Mount Vernon, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 4% less than in Mount Vernon, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.