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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,147 in Reston, VA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,990 in Reston, VA versus $4,184 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,833 in Reston, VA versus $5,674 in Austin, TX.

Living in Reston, VA is roughly 17% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Reston, VA 129% above, Austin, TX 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.29 $24.29

$19.82 $19.82

22.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$83.9 $83.9

17.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.30 $12.30

-19.35%

Cappuccino

$6.11 $6.11

$5.48 $5.48

11.50%

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

$2.99 $2.99

$3.72 $3.72

-19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.36 $2.36

8.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.78 $7.78

$7.76 $7.76

0.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.70 $8.70

$9.14 $9.14

-4.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.13 $1.13

42.48%

White Bread (500g)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.75 $3.75

21.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.43 $3.43

59.77%

Eggs

$5.43 $5.43

$4.35 $4.35

24.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$13.14 $13.14

45.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$14.39 $14.39

16.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.85 $22.85

$17.20 $17.20

32.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$4.49 $4.49

24.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.44 $1.44

14.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$4.67 $4.67

-1.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.97 $4.97

17.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.00 $3.00

10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.69 $2.69

39.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.85 $1.85

24.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.18 $2.18

17.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.61 $10.61

$9.45 $9.45

12.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.19 $17.19

$15.11 $15.11

13.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.89 $2.89

-41.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.49 $3.49

34.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.64 $1.64

141.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$40.44 $40.44

226.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$2.81 $2.81

43.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.58 $1.58

-20.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.44 $25.44

$35.18 $35.18

-27.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.90 $0.90

2.22%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$35.9K $35.9K

-17.37%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$27.7K $27.7K

-9.37%

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

$164 $164

$222 $222

-26.07%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$58.3 $58.3

-11.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 $71.4

$69.1 $69.1

3.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.4 $99.4

$66.2 $66.2

50.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.77 $29.77

$14.76 $14.76

101.69%

Cinema Ticket

$16.71 $16.71

$13.78 $13.78

21.26%

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

$1,615 $1,615

$1,526 $1,526

5.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.4K $35.4K

$21.2K $21.2K

67.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$54.6 $54.6

0.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.63 $36.63

$44.01 $44.01

-16.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$89.7 $89.7

12.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$165 $165

$109 $109

52.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,366 $2,366

$1,942 $1,942

21.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 $1,560

$1,258 $1,258

23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,733 $3,733

$3,762 $3,762

-0.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,166 $3,166

$2,592 $2,592

22.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,452 $6,452

$7,403 $7,403

-12.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,352 $4,352

$3,203 $3,203

35.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,320 $6,320

$5,085 $5,085

24.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

6.44

-2.64%

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

Last update for Reston, VA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,366 in Reston, VA and $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reston, VA pays 24% 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: $98.0 in Reston, VA vs $84.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $510 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

Reston, VA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Reston, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 24% higher in Reston, VA, 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: $2,366 in Reston, VA versus $1,942 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,147 per month in Reston, VA versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 227% less than in Reston, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 17% less than in Reston, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.