Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairfax, VA and Austin, TX

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Fairfax, VA is 23% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Fairfax, VA is 2.2% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.9 $19.9
$19.64 $19.64
1.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99 $99
$76.2 $76.2
29.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.82 $11.82
$9.95 $9.95
18.79%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.61 $5.61
0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.64 $2.64
5.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.19 $2.19
5.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$5.84 $5.84
5.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$7.92 $7.92
-1.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.13 $1.13
-13.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.3 $3.3
11.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.92 $5.92
$3.5 $3.5
69.14%
Eggs
$5.05 $5.05
$4.4 $4.4
14.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.54 $17.54
$12 $12
46.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.63 $12.63
$10.68 $10.68
18.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.65 $16.65
$14.73 $14.73
13.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.88 $4.88
12.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.52 $1.52
16.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.08 $5.08
$4.53 $4.53
12.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.4 $6.4
$3.92 $3.92
63.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.72 $2.72
25.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.76 $2.76
-1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.01 $2.01
12.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$2.18 $2.18
14.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.76 $10.76
$8.86 $8.86
21.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.76 $13.76
$14.96 $14.96
-8.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.34 $2.34
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 $4.67
$3.44 $3.44
35.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.15 $5.15
$1.48 $1.48
247.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.63 $45.63
$42.82 $42.82
6.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.3 $4.3
-40.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.82 $1.82
-15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.74 $22.74
$34.63 $34.63
-34.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.73 $0.73
23.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
17.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.3K $26.3K
-2.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$177 $177
17.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.5 $59.5
$58.9 $58.9
0.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$64.8 $64.8
11.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$110 $110
$62.6 $62.6
76.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.76 $24.76
$10.17 $10.17
143.46%
Cinema Ticket
$15.2 $15.2
$14.72 $14.72
3.26%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,783 $1,783
$1,378 $1,378
29.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.8K $30.8K
$22.4K $22.4K
37.50%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 $54.1
$56.3 $56.3
-3.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 $50.9
$46.46 $46.46
9.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 $96.1
$86.7 $86.7
10.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$119 $119
21.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,216 $2,216
$2,188 $2,188
1.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,918 $1,918
$1,395 $1,395
37.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,733 $3,733
$3,896 $3,896
-4.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,902 $2,902
$2,689 $2,689
7.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,453 $5,453
$4,414 $4,414
23.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,014 $4,014
$3,161 $3,161
26.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Fairfax, VA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,332 $6,332
$4,871 $4,871
29.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.45
2.02%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fairfax, VA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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