Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Virginia Beach, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,798 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $4,013 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $5,229 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 5% less than in Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Virginia Beach, VA 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$18.34 $18.34

8.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$89.9 $89.9

-6.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.05 $12.05

1.83%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.08 $6.08

-7.40%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.78 $2.78

29.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.10 $2.10

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.07 $6.07

29.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.18 $7.18

26.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.03 $1.03

10.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.05 $3.05

19.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$5.48 $5.48

-39.60%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.82 $4.82

-7.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$10.22 $10.22

27.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$10.07 $10.07

45.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$18.19 $18.19

-4.23%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.52 $2.52

82.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.54 $1.54

-5.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$5.06 $5.06

-5.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$5.87 $5.87

-15.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.26 $2.26

33.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.56 $4.56

-39.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.79 $1.79

8.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.25 $2.25

-2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.29 $9.29

-0.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.20 $12.20

22.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.83 $1.83

56.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.13 $2.13

68.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.03 $2.03

-18.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$68.9 $68.9

-39.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$4.56 $4.56

-38.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.28 $1.28

24.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$20.17 $20.17

71.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

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

$35.7K $35.7K

-0.04%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$24.5K $24.5K

9.46%

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

$229 $229

$206 $206

11.10%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$60.3 $60.3

-2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$65.4 $65.4

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$43.30 $43.30

51.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

$35.06 $35.06

-57.93%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.15 $12.15

14.07%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,590 $1,590

-5.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$16.1K $16.1K

30.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$61.0 $61.0

-12.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$46.79 $46.79

-5.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$117 $117

-22.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$113 $113

-4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,795 $1,795

7.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,412 $1,412

-10.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,829 $2,829

33.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,140 $2,140

21.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$2,305 $2,305

218.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,268 $2,268

42.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$4,202 $4,202

19.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Virginia Beach, VA: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,795 in Virginia Beach, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $90.0 in Virginia Beach, VA. Groceries flip the comparison at $419 vs $377, with Virginia Beach, VA 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 Virginia Beach, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Virginia Beach, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 20% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,795 in Virginia Beach, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,798 in Virginia Beach, VA – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 64% less than in Virginia Beach, VA. 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 6% less than in Virginia Beach, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.