Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Pullman, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Pullman, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,746 in Austin, TX versus $2,281 in Pullman, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,137 in Austin, TX versus $3,395 in Pullman, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Austin, TX versus $4,508 in Pullman, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 20% more expensive than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 106% above, Pullman, WA 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$16.80 $16.80

15.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.3 $74.3

$66.3 $66.3

12.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.63 $8.63

14.95%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.47 $4.47

25.50%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.13 $2.13

23.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.86 $1.86

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.13 $6.13

-3.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$5.52 $5.52

43.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.03 $1.03

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.81 $3.81

-9.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.86 $3.86

-13.73%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$5.55 $5.55

-21.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$21.65 $21.65

-43.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.50 $10.50

$14.52 $14.52

-27.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$20.02 $20.02

-27.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$3.80 $3.80

25.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.02 $2.02

-25.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.65 $3.65

26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$7.17 $7.17

-43.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.48 $2.48

11.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.61 $2.61

8.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.27 $3.27

-40.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.94 $2.94

-23.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$8.27 $8.27

9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$17.24 $17.24

-13.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.75 $1.75

32.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$8.91 $8.91

-61.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.98 $0.98

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.27 $44.27

$30.14 $30.14

46.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.05 $4.05

5.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.69 $1.69

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.71 $34.71

$29.59 $29.59

17.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.94 $0.94

-15.96%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$19.7K $19.7K

32.34%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$20.3K $20.3K

29.65%

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

$174 $174

$105 $105

65.67%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$83.3 $83.3

-30.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$59.6 $59.6

12.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 $61.5

$29.83 $29.83

106.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 $9.97

$10.11 $10.11

-1.38%

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.95 $14.95

2.27%

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

$1,379 $1,379

$1,218 $1,218

13.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.9K $21.9K

$23.0K $23.0K

-4.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$50.7 $50.7

12.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$22.70 $22.70

104.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$99.6 $99.6

-12.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$158 $158

-26.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,212 $2,212

$1,192 $1,192

85.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$1,003 $1,003

43.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,788 $3,788

$2,160 $2,160

75.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$1,683 $1,683

55.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,183 $7,183

$2,230 $2,230

222.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,138 $3,138

$2,188 $2,188

43.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,995 $4,995

$3,476 $3,476

43.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.3

2.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 13, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,212 in Austin, TX and $1,192 in Pullman, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in Pullman, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $487, 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 Pullman, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pullman, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pullman, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 44% 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: $2,212 in Austin, TX versus $1,192 in Pullman, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,746 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,281 in Pullman, WA – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pullman, WA runs roughly 47% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,281 in Pullman, WA versus $2,746 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Pullman, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Pullman, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Pullman, 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 Pullman, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.