Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,663 a month against $3,292 in Reston, VA, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

159

Cost of Living Index in Reston, VA
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Reston, VA Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Reston, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,292

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Reston, VA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Reston, VA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,292 in Reston, VA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Reston, VA $3,292
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,194 in Reston, VA versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Reston, VA $5,194
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,096 in Reston, VA versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Reston, VA $7,096
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Reston, VA is roughly 24% more expensive than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Reston, VA 144% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.47 $28.47

$20.77 $20.77

37.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$84.6 $84.6

40.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$12.32 $12.32

-19.97%

Cappuccino

$6.12 $6.12

$5.63 $5.63

8.70%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.72 $3.72

-20.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.50 $2.50

4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.05 $8.05

-12.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$9.01 $9.01

-17.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.12 $1.12

19.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.75 $3.75

16.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.26 $3.26

39.26%

Eggs

$5.31 $5.31

$4.17 $4.17

27.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.89 $16.89

$12.90 $12.90

30.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.89 $16.89

$14.16 $14.16

19.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.06 $23.06

$16.22 $16.22

42.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.33 $4.33

58.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.46 $1.46

17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.51 $4.51

-9.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$4.34 $4.34

34.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.58 $2.58

13.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.35 $2.35

57.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.78 $1.78

67.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.22 $2.22

13.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.04 $14.04

$9.88 $9.88

42.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.79 $17.79

$15.08 $15.08

17.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.92 $2.92

-39.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$3.46 $3.46

34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.07 $4.07

$1.49 $1.49

173.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 $129

$41.72 $41.72

210.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.73 $2.73

43.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.66 $1.66

-2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.89 $24.89

$35.30 $35.30

-29.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.95 $0.95

5.26%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$36.0K $36.0K

-16.10%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

-11.45%

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

$215 $215

$229 $229

-6.30%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$59.4 $59.4

6.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.3 $78.3

$69.9 $69.9

11.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 $100

$57.2 $57.2

74.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.79 $29.79

$16.33 $16.33

82.42%

Cinema Ticket

$16.04 $16.04

$14.28 $14.28

12.32%

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

$3,165 $3,165

$1,506 $1,506

110.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.8K $40.8K

$21.5K $21.5K

90.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.0 $76.0

$52.8 $52.8

43.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.32 $43.32

$43.82 $43.82

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$84.8 $84.8

22.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$103 $103

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,907 $1,907

24.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,274 $1,274

24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,616 $3,616

$3,664 $3,664

-1.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,125 $3,125

$2,538 $2,538

23.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,387 $6,387

$7,614 $7,614

-16.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,379 $4,379

$3,157 $3,157

38.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,376 $6,376

$5,121 $5,121

24.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.79

-2.36%

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

Last update for Reston, VA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Reston, VA

$1.6K 48.1%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 19.6% $310

Groceries & Markets

Reston, VA

$503 15.3%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 19.6% $98

Eating Out

Reston, VA

$403 12.2%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 12.2% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Reston, VA

$356 10.8%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 0.7% $2.4

Getting Around

Reston, VA

$158 4.8%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 62.8% $99

Clothing & Footwear

Reston, VA

$156 4.7%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 17.9% $28

Sport & Entertainment

Reston, VA

$132 4%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 35.1% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Reston, VA and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Reston, VA pays 25% 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: $119 in Reston, VA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $503 vs $405 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Reston, VA

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

09:14 9:14 AM

08:14 8:14 AM

1 h behind Reston, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

58,404

974,447

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Reston, VA Austin, TX 2,090 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Reston, VA
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 24% 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 25% 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: $2,377 in Reston, VA versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,292 per month in Reston, VA versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 210% 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 24% less than in Reston, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.