Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Oak Harbor, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Oak Harbor, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $3,280 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $4,475 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $5,669 in Oak Harbor, WA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 17% less than in Oak Harbor, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Oak Harbor, WA 144% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$21.44 $21.44

-9.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$71.2 $71.2

3.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$18.45 $18.45

-44.77%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$6.81 $6.81

-16.15%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.44 $2.44

8.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.53 $1.53

43.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$8.08 $8.08

-26.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.64 $6.64

21.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.16 $1.16

-6.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.05 $4.05

-16.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.11 $6.11

-45.34%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$5.66 $5.66

-21.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$19.86 $19.86

-40.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$12.46 $12.46

-13.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$19.86 $19.86

-28.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$7.78 $7.78

-38.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.34 $1.34

14.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$8.71 $8.71

-47.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$6.59 $6.59

-39.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.75 $3.75

-23.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$5.11 $5.11

-45.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.63 $2.63

-25.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$8.72 $8.72

4.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.80 $12.80

16.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.73 $2.73

-16.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.91 $3.91

-13.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.02 $2.02

-26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

$57.0 $57.0

-25.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.43 $3.43

25.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.65 $1.65

7.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$29.60 $29.60

16.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.23 $1.23

-39.02%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$29.8K $29.8K

-15.39%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.60%

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

$176 $176

$388 $388

-54.70%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$61.9 $61.9

-3.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$82.5 $82.5

-18.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$27.56 $27.56

126.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.77 $14.77

1.83%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,294 $1,294

7.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$23.2K $23.2K

-3.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$53.6 $53.6

5.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$37.61 $37.61

24.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$118 $118

-26.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$194 $194

-38.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$2,270 $2,270

-4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,599 $1,599

-10.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,880 $2,880

30.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,087 $2,087

29.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$4,004 $4,004

75.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$3,987 $3,987

-21.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$3,297 $3,297

54.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

-7.86%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Oak Harbor, WA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $2,270 in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $71.0 in Oak Harbor, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $501, 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 Oak Harbor, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Oak Harbor, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 54% 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $2,270 in Oak Harbor, 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 $3,280 in Oak Harbor, WA – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 34% less than in Oak Harbor, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Oak Harbor, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Oak Harbor, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.