Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ocean Shores, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ocean Shores, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,609 in Ocean Shores, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,942 in Ocean Shores, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $5,275 in Ocean Shores, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 2% more expensive than Ocean Shores, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Ocean Shores, WA 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$22.48 $22.48

-11.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$116 $116

-35.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$12.60 $12.60

-20.40%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$6.18 $6.18

-10.68%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$4.97 $4.97

-44.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.47 $2.47

-14.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$9.15 $9.15

-33.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$12.19 $12.19

-35.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.08 $1.08

4.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.38 $3.38

2.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.83 $2.83

20.85%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$3.56 $3.56

22.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$10.87 $10.87

12.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$5.98 $5.98

80.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$15.67 $15.67

-8.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.30 $4.30

16.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.31 $2.31

-34.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.33 $3.33

31.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.68 $3.68

7.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.89 $2.89

-5.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.79 $3.79

-26.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.95 $1.95

1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.97 $1.97

15.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$13.68 $13.68

-36.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$10.90 $10.90

35.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.17 $2.17

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.98 $1.98

80.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.97 $1.97

-21.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$3.57 $3.57

24.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.94 $1.94

-6.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$28.66 $28.66

23.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.16 $1.16

-36.21%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.7K $29.7K

-14.17%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.87%

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

$170 $170

$154 $154

10.44%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$52.5 $52.5

14.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$71.3 $71.3

-5.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$43.56 $43.56

41.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$18.03 $18.03

-16.03%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$2,142 $2,142

-35.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$30.1K $30.1K

-27.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$61.1 $61.1

-6.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$37.56 $37.56

22.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$98.4 $98.4

-12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$112 $112

6.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,622 $1,622

34.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,367 $1,367

3.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,601 $2,601

46.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,187 $2,187

23.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$2,391 $2,391

201.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$2,427 $2,427

33.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ocean Shores, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,622 in Ocean Shores, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74 in Austin, TX vs $116 in Ocean Shores, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $331, with Ocean Shores, WA 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 Ocean Shores, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ocean Shores, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ocean Shores, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,986 in Austin, TX and $3,913 in Ocean Shores, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,622 in Ocean Shores, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $2,142 in Ocean Shores, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ocean Shores, WA – a meal for two runs $116 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ocean Shores, 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 Ocean Shores, 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 Ocean Shores, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.