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: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,293 in Pullman, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,391 in Pullman, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $4,489 in Pullman, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 19% more expensive than in Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Pullman, WA 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$16.29 $16.29

19.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$65.6 $65.6

14.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$8.67 $8.67

14.07%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.34 $4.34

26.50%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.11 $2.11

27.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.86 $1.86

14.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.04 $6.04

-2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$5.41 $5.41

45.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.02 $1.02

12.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.79 $3.79

-11.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.97 $3.97

-12.34%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$5.65 $5.65

-21.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$21.59 $21.59

-45.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$14.17 $14.17

-24.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.71 $19.71

-24.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.72 $3.72

28.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.02 $2.02

-22.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.65 $3.65

19.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$7.17 $7.17

-44.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.39 $2.39

13.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.61 $2.61

8.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.32 $3.32

-38.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.94 $2.94

-23.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.46 $8.46

3.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$16.93 $16.93

-11.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.75 $1.75

30.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$8.88 $8.88

-60.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.01 $1.01

51.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

$30.10 $30.10

46.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$4.05 $4.05

6.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.73 $1.73

5.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.40 $29.40

19.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.93 $0.93

-21.51%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$20.1K $20.1K

29.02%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$19.6K $19.6K

35.01%

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

$172 $172

$105 $105

64.61%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$84.9 $84.9

-31.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$58.2 $58.2

13.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$29.44 $29.44

115.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.98 $9.98

1.70%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$15.24 $15.24

-1.25%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,213 $1,213

15.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

-4.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$52.2 $52.2

8.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$22.47 $22.47

107.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$98.4 $98.4

-12.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$162 $162

-26.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$1,183 $1,183

88.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$1,013 $1,013

38.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,130 $2,130

79.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$1,695 $1,695

56.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,276 $2,276

218.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,236 $2,236

39.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$3,475 $3,475

44.16%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $1,183 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in Pullman, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $378 vs $484, 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 19% 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.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $1,183 in Pullman, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,732 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,293 in Pullman, WA – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pullman, WA runs roughly 46% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,293 in Pullman, WA versus $2,732 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 19% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.