🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,609 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $2,657 in Austin, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,942 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,275 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $5,546 in Austin, TX.
🙂Living in Ocean Shores, WA costs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ocean Shores, WA95% above, Austin, TX98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.48$22.48
$19.85$19.85
13.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$116$116
$74.5$74.5
55.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.60$12.60
$10.03$10.03
25.62%
Cappuccino
$6.18$6.18
$5.52$5.52
11.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97$4.97
$2.78$2.78
78.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47$2.47
$2.10$2.10
17.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.15$9.15
$6.04$6.04
51.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.19$12.19
$7.81$7.81
56.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$1.13$1.13
-4.42%
White Bread(500g)
$3.38$3.38
$3.45$3.45
-2.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$3.42$3.42
-17.25%
Eggs
$3.56$3.56
$4.37$4.37
-18.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.87$10.87
$12.24$12.24
-11.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.98$5.98
$10.79$10.79
-44.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.67$15.67
$14.36$14.36
9.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$4.99$4.99
-13.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31$2.31
$1.51$1.51
52.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.33$3.33
$4.38$4.38
-23.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68$3.68
$3.96$3.96
-7.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.74$2.74
5.47%
Onion(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$2.77$2.77
36.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95$1.95
$1.98$1.98
-1.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$2.28$2.28
-13.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.68$13.68
$8.74$8.74
56.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90$10.90
$14.81$14.81
-26.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17$2.17
$2.26$2.26
-3.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$3.58$3.58
-44.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$1.54$1.54
27.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$43.09$43.09
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$4.45$4.45
-19.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94$1.94
$1.81$1.81
7.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.66$28.66
$35.30$35.30
-18.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16$1.16
$0.74$0.74
56.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$25.5K$25.5K
16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$26.4K$26.4K
-0.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154$154
$170$170
-9.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5$52.5
$60.3$60.3
-12.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3$71.3
$67.0$67.0
6.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.56$43.56
$61.6$61.6
-29.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.83$9.83
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.03$18.03
$15.14$15.14
19.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,142$2,142
$1,381$1,381
55.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.1K$30.1K
$21.8K$21.8K
38.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1$61.1
$56.9$56.9
7.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.56$37.56
$45.94$45.94
-18.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.4$98.4
$86.0$86.0
14.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$119$119
-6.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,622$1,622
$2,183$2,183
-25.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,367$1,367
$1,417$1,417
-3.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,601$2,601
$3,801$3,801
-31.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,187$2,187
$2,711$2,711
-19.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,391$2,391
$7,204$7,204
-66.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,427$2,427
$3,239$3,239
-25.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ocean Shores, WA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$4,914$4,914
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
6.45
2.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ocean Shores, WA: April 27, 2026
Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,622 in Ocean Shores, WA and $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $116 in Ocean Shores, WA vs $74 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $331 vs $379, with Ocean Shores, WA 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
Ocean Shores, WA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ocean Shores, WA or Austin, TX?
Ocean Shores, WA wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ocean Shores, WA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ocean Shores, WA vs Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,913 in Ocean Shores, WA and $3,986 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ocean Shores, WA vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,622 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ocean Shores, WA and Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $2,142 in Ocean Shores, WA versus $1,381 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ocean Shores, WA vs Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Ocean Shores, WA – a meal for two runs $116 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Ocean Shores, WA or Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ocean Shores, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ocean Shores, WA or Austin, TX?
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.
How safe is Ocean Shores, WA compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Ocean Shores, WA and Austin, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ocean Shores, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ocean Shores, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared