Cost of Living Comparison Between Chevy Chase, MD and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chevy Chase, MD and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,669 in Chevy Chase, MD versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,604 in Chevy Chase, MD versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,538 in Chevy Chase, MD versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Chevy Chase, MD is roughly 36% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chevy Chase, MD 167% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$19.82 $19.82

1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$105 $105

$83.9 $83.9

25.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$12.30 $12.30

-1.14%

Cappuccino

$4.55 $4.55

$5.48 $5.48

-16.97%

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

$2.73 $2.73

$3.72 $3.72

-26.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.45 $6.45

$7.76 $7.76

-16.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.08 $9.08

$9.14 $9.14

-0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.13 $1.13

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.75 $3.75

-9.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$3.43 $3.43

81.92%

Eggs

$6.81 $6.81

$4.35 $4.35

56.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.03 $19.03

$13.14 $13.14

44.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.50 $20.50

$14.39 $14.39

42.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.46 $23.46

$17.20 $17.20

36.40%

Apples (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$4.49 $4.49

77.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.44 $1.44

99.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.44 $7.44

$4.67 $4.67

59.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$4.97 $4.97

60.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.00 $3.00

-3.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.69 $2.69

22.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.85 $1.85

54.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.18 $2.18

43.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.45 $9.45

-4.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 $18.23

$15.11 $15.11

20.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.89 $2.89

-41.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.49 $3.49

10.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.64 $1.64

9.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.81 $2.81

44.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.58 $1.58

25.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.80 $24.80

$35.18 $35.18

-29.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.90 $0.90

2.22%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$35.9K $35.9K

2.93%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$27.7K $27.7K

-10.58%

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

$221 $221

$222 $222

-0.67%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$58.3 $58.3

-7.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.5 $80.5

$69.1 $69.1

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.79 $41.79

$66.2 $66.2

-36.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$15.20 $15.20

$13.78 $13.78

10.30%

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

$1,974 $1,974

$1,526 $1,526

29.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K $19.8K

$21.2K $21.2K

-6.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.83 $47.83

$54.6 $54.6

-12.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 $48.03

$44.01 $44.01

9.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$89.7 $89.7

34.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$109 $109

24.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 $2,529

$1,942 $1,942

30.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,160 $2,160

$1,258 $1,258

71.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,147 $4,147

$3,762 $3,762

10.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,976 $1,976

$2,592 $2,592

-23.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,802 $2,802

$7,403 $7,403

-62.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,404 $2,404

$3,203 $3,203

-24.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

6.44

-5.28%

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

Last update for Chevy Chase, MD: August 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,529 in Chevy Chase, MD and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $105 in Chevy Chase, MD vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $571 vs $417 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

Chevy Chase, MD vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Chevy Chase, MD. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $5,504 in Chevy Chase, MD and $4,042 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,529 in Chevy Chase, MD versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,974 in Chevy Chase, MD versus $1,526 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $105 in Chevy Chase, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 36% less than in Chevy Chase, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.