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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $3,161 in SeaTac, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $4,572 in SeaTac, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $5,984 in SeaTac, WA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 14% less than in SeaTac, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, SeaTac, WA 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$25.03 $25.03

-21.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$80.8 $80.8

4.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.03 $12.03

2.24%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.58 $5.58

-2.33%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$3.11 $3.11

16.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.08 $2.08

15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$3.93 $3.93

101.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$5.90 $5.90

50.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.11 $1.11

-3.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.25 $4.25

-13.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.37 $3.37

-0.89%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$6.92 $6.92

-38.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$14.67 $14.67

-11.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$14.19 $14.19

0.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$17.67 $17.67

-5.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.58 $5.58

-19.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.70 $1.70

-16.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.10 $4.10

11.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.54 $4.54

2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.34 $2.34

15.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.05 $3.05

-15.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.97 $1.97

-4.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$3.07 $3.07

-28.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$12.22 $12.22

-17.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$22.90 $22.90

-34.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.70 $1.70

71.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.05 $2.05

60.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.69 $2.69

-43.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$94.8 $94.8

-56.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.54 $2.54

6.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.63 $1.63

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$30.05 $30.05

16.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.34 $1.34

-33.58%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$37.6K $37.6K

-3.18%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$28.0K $28.0K

-3.23%

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

$223 $223

$228 $228

-1.99%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$61.5 $61.5

-6.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$84.8 $84.8

-19.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$35.62 $35.62

84.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$20.34 $20.34

-28.17%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$17.88 $17.88

-21.98%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$2,091 $2,091

-27.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$31.4K $31.4K

-31.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$62.2 $62.2

-14.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$43.92 $43.92

-2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$64.2 $64.2

32.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$46.88 $46.88

119.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$2,212 $2,212

-11.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,772 $1,772

-28.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$3,835 $3,835

-1.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$2,689 $2,689

-5.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$4,075 $4,075

76.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$3,952 $3,952

-20.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$6,021 $6,021

-17.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.1

6.07%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for SeaTac, WA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $2,212 in SeaTac, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

SeaTac, WA pays 22% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in SeaTac, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $409 vs $456, 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 SeaTac, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in SeaTac, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in SeaTac, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $2,212 in SeaTac, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $3,161 in SeaTac, WA – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 128% less than in SeaTac, 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 16% less than in SeaTac, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.