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: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,693 in University Place, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,985 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,276 in University Place, WA.

Monthly costs are close between Austin, TX and University Place, WA; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, University Place, WA 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$16.66 $16.66

19.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$117 $117

-36.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.60 $12.60

-21.83%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$6.02 $6.02

-3.82%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.94 $2.94

-6.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.47 $2.47

-12.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$9.24 $9.24

-35.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$11.80 $11.80

-31.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.20 $4.20

-21.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.78 $2.78

21.22%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.73 $4.73

-8.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.38 $11.38

5.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$16.16 $16.16

-34.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$19.49 $19.49

-25.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.03 $5.03

0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.64 $1.64

-4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$5.06 $5.06

-13.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.74 $3.74

8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.39 $3.39

-18.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.75 $2.75

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.97 $1.97

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.02 $3.02

-26.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$11.02 $11.02

-20.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$18.74 $18.74

-21.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.74 $1.74

34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.43 $3.43

1.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.67 $2.67

61.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.95 $1.95

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.69 $29.69

18.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.19 $1.19

-32.77%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.39%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

4.19%

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

$173 $173

$157 $157

10.80%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$52.7 $52.7

11.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$89.5 $89.5

-24.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$43.32 $43.32

42.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$17.77 $17.77

-16.71%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$2,070 $2,070

-31.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$29.8K $29.8K

-25.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$59.4 $59.4

-7.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$36.81 $36.81

26.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$98.9 $98.9

-11.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$115 $115

4.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,615 $1,615

36.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,374 $1,374

3.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,664 $2,664

41.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,258 $2,258

19.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,758 $2,758

165.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,148 $2,148

46.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$7,932 $7,932

-35.79%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for University Place, WA: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,615 in University Place, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 56% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $117 in University Place, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $443 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

On paper, salaries run 56% lower in University Place, 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,615 in University Place, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in University Place, WA – a meal for two runs $117 versus $74.0 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.

It comes down to priorities – University Place, WA wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.