Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and University Place, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and University Place, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,637 in University Place, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $4,035 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,433 in University Place, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than University Place, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, University Place, WA 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.29 $16.29

20.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$116 $116

-35.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.61 $12.61

-21.33%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$6.23 $6.23

-8.99%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.93 $2.93

-5.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.47 $2.47

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$9.09 $9.09

-35.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$11.78 $11.78

-34.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.13 $1.13

-3.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.22 $4.22

-19.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.71 $2.71

26.57%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.94 $4.94

-11.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.32 $11.32

5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$16.32 $16.32

-34.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$19.04 $19.04

-24.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.28 $5.28

-8.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.63 $1.63

-4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.98 $4.98

-10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.74 $3.74

4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.32 $3.32

-17.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.82 $2.82

-2.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.00 $2.00

2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.03 $3.03

-25.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$11.06 $11.06

-19.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$18.80 $18.80

-21.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.72 $1.72

36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.46 $3.46

3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.56 $2.56

67.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.95 $1.95

-5.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.84 $29.84

19.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.15 $1.15

-37.39%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.54%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.90%

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

$174 $174

$159 $159

9.37%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.3 $52.3

15.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$88.1 $88.1

-24.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.32 $42.32

48.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$17.74 $17.74

-14.09%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$2,052 $2,052

-32.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$29.6K $29.6K

-25.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$60.1 $60.1

-5.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$37.35 $37.35

21.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$98.5 $98.5

-12.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$113 $113

5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,594 $1,594

41.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,329 $1,329

7.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,589 $2,589

45.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,253 $2,253

17.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,770 $2,770

154.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,449 $2,449

29.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$7,868 $7,868

-35.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,594 in University Place, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $116 in University Place, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $445 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 University Place, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

University Place, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making University Place, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, University Place, WA earns 54% less. 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,594 in University Place, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $2,052 in University Place, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in University Place, WA – a meal for two runs $116 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. University Place, 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 University Place, 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 University Place, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.