Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and The Dalles, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and The Dalles, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,588 in The Dalles, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,857 in The Dalles, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $5,126 in The Dalles, OR.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than The Dalles, OR, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, The Dalles, OR 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$27.79 $27.79

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$69.8 $69.8

6.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$12.07 $12.07

-16.90%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$6.14 $6.14

-10.10%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.29 $3.29

-15.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.67 $2.67

-21.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$7.15 $7.15

-15.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$5.85 $5.85

33.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.30 $3.30

4.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.31 $4.31

-20.65%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$3.06 $3.06

42.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$17.56 $17.56

-30.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$10.33 $10.33

4.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$10.85 $10.85

32.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$6.55 $6.55

-23.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.62 $1.62

-6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.29 $4.29

2.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.33 $4.33

-8.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.01 $3.01

-8.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.65 $2.65

4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.45 $2.45

-19.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.03 $2.03

12.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$12.38 $12.38

-29.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.86 $14.86

-0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.94 $1.94

16.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$4.63 $4.63

-22.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

$44.28 $44.28

-2.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.13 $5.13

-13.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.23 $1.23

47.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$51.5 $51.5

-31.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.17 $1.17

-36.75%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$35.6K $35.6K

-28.43%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.36%

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

$170 $170

$121 $121

40.35%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$61.6 $61.6

-2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$70.6 $70.6

-5.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$43.58 $43.58

41.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$11.22 $11.22

34.94%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$994 $994

38.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

-7.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$39.54 $39.54

43.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$34.62 $34.62

32.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$60.1 $60.1

43.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$80.7 $80.7

48.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,630 $1,630

33.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,367 $1,367

3.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,625 $2,625

44.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,261 $2,261

19.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

$2,643 $2,643

172.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

$2,290 $2,290

41.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.66

-3.15%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for The Dalles, OR: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,630 in The Dalles, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74 in Austin, TX vs $70 in The Dalles, OR. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $388, 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 The Dalles, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

The Dalles, OR wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making The Dalles, OR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,986 in Austin, TX and $3,882 in The Dalles, OR 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 $1,630 in The Dalles, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,657 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,588 in The Dalles, OR – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in The Dalles, OR runs roughly 3% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. The Dalles, OR 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 The Dalles, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.