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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,301 in Walla Walla, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,440 in Walla Walla, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,579 in Walla Walla, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than Walla Walla, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Walla Walla, WA 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$14.73 $14.73

35.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$63.8 $63.8

19.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$8.91 $8.91

13.69%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.72 $4.72

16.31%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.38 $2.38

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.88 $1.88

13.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.93 $4.93

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.92 $5.92

35.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.96 $2.96

12.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.11 $3.11

9.97%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.10 $4.10

5.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$16.43 $16.43

-28.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.50 $14.50

-26.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$16.21 $16.21

-10.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.13 $4.13

15.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.55 $1.55

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.13 $2.13

111.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.54 $3.54

14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.74 $1.74

58.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.87 $1.87

49.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.77 $1.77

15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.06 $2.06

4.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$10.81 $10.81

-14.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.11 $12.11

22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.90 $1.90

20.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.76 $4.76

-25.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.24 $0.24

533.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$19.78 $19.78

120.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$5.01 $5.01

-14.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.77 $1.77

2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$40.11 $40.11

-11.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.14 $1.14

-32.46%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.4K $30.4K

-15.83%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.21%

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

$172 $172

$164 $164

5.17%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$66.1 $66.1

-8.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$64.6 $64.6

4.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.56 $43.56

44.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$10.84 $10.84

35.89%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,459 $1,459

-4.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$15.8K $15.8K

37.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$50.7 $50.7

8.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$34.32 $34.32

33.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$91.5 $91.5

-5.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$80.1 $80.1

44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,337 $1,337

67.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,152 $1,152

21.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,202 $2,202

71.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,980 $1,980

36.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,763 $2,763

164.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,667 $2,667

24.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$5,141 $5,141

-4.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.9

9.32%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Walla Walla, WA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,337 in Walla Walla, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Walla Walla, WA pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $64 in Walla Walla, WA. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $379, 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 Walla Walla, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Walla Walla, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Walla Walla, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Walla Walla, WA earns 5% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,337 in Walla Walla, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,301 in Walla Walla, WA – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Walla Walla, WA runs roughly 121% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,301 in Walla Walla, WA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Walla Walla, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Walla Walla, WA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Walla Walla, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.