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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,188 in Yakima, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,224 in Yakima, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,260 in Yakima, WA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than in Yakima, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Yakima, WA 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.52 $15.52

28.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$66.2 $66.2

12.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$10.37 $10.37

-5.01%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.72 $4.72

22.67%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.99 $1.99

38.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.56 $2.56

-15.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.39 $4.39

36.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$5.08 $5.08

59.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.94 $0.94

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.83 $3.83

-14.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.46 $3.46

-2.60%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.10 $3.10

39.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.10 $10.10

19.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.67 $10.67

-0.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.18 $14.18

2.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.21 $3.21

57.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 $1.49

5.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.20 $4.20

4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.13 $3.13

30.03%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.00 $2.00

38.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.08 $2.08

35.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.06 $2.06

-4.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.47 $1.47

51.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.26 $9.26

-5.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.87 $13.87

6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.88 $1.88

24.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.64 $4.64

-25.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$4.92 $4.92

-69.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.04 $3.04

41.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.91 $0.91

97.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$52.7 $52.7

-33.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.11 $1.11

-27.93%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$34.9K $34.9K

-26.30%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

2.21%

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

$173 $173

$122 $122

42.72%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$50.7 $50.7

15.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$69.0 $69.0

-2.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$70.8 $70.8

-12.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.61 $13.61

8.74%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,709 $1,709

-17.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$7,075 $7,075

212.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$51.3 $51.3

7.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$58.3 $58.3

-19.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$81.6 $81.6

7.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$108 $108

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$995 $995

121.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,089 $1,089

31.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,647 $1,647

128.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,751 $1,751

54.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,524 $2,524

190.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,514 $2,514

24.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,517 $3,517

44.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.56

-1.68%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Yakima, WA: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $995 in Yakima, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $66.0 in Yakima, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $340 per month, with Yakima, WA 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 Yakima, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yakima, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yakima, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $995 in Yakima, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,709 in Yakima, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Yakima, WA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,188 in Yakima, WA versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yakima, WA but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.