Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,598 in Seattle, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,539 in Seattle, WA versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,479 in Seattle, WA versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 35% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 168% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.80 $24.80

$19.63 $19.63

26.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$75.1 $75.1

56.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.77 $13.77

$9.92 $9.92

38.81%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.67 $5.67

0.71%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.77 $2.77

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.17 $2.17

15.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.84 $5.84

34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.77 $7.77

1.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.09 $1.09

23.85%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.41 $3.41

48.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.43 $3.43

57.14%

Eggs

$6.85 $6.85

$4.39 $4.39

56.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.07 $25.07

$11.95 $11.95

109.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$10.76 $10.76

47.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.59 $20.59

$14.29 $14.29

44.09%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$4.84 $4.84

26.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.55 $1.55

81.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.46 $4.46

23.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.74 $6.74

$3.91 $3.91

72.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.74 $2.74

14.96%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.74 $2.74

39.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.04 $2.04

31.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.25 $2.25

17.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.65 $11.65

$8.93 $8.93

30.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.85 $14.85

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.35 $2.35

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.57 $3.57

18.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.47 $1.47

91.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100 $100

$42.98 $42.98

133.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 $2.60

$4.28 $4.28

-39.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.84 $1.84

-6.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.22 $30.22

$35.54 $35.54

-14.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.72 $0.72

65.28%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

27.18%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.15%

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

$263 $263

$174 $174

51.19%

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

$60.9 $60.9

$60.2 $60.2

1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$66.3 $66.3

14.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.6 $79.6

$62.8 $62.8

26.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.89 $39.89

$9.83 $9.83

305.80%

Cinema Ticket

$16.27 $16.27

$15.24 $15.24

6.76%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,387 $1,387

64.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K $29.3K

$22.2K $22.2K

32.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$56.7 $56.7

20.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$45.34 $45.34

14.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$86.5 $86.5

33.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$119 $119

20.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,247 $2,247

3.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,863 $1,863

$1,430 $1,430

30.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,628 $4,628

$3,778 $3,778

22.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$2,641 $2,641

31.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,766 $7,766

$7,044 $7,044

10.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,232 $5,232

$3,162 $3,162

65.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,617 $6,617

$5,108 $5,108

29.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,336 in Seattle, WA and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 30% 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: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $547 vs $377 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

Seattle, WA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Seattle, WA pays 30% more on average, 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: $2,336 in Seattle, WA versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,598 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 133% less than in Seattle, WA. 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 work as nomad bases, but Austin, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,659 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Austin, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.