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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,720 in Stafford, VA versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,119 in Stafford, VA versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,518 in Stafford, VA versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs are close between Stafford, VA and Austin, TX; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stafford, VA 103% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.52 $17.52

$19.99 $19.99

-12.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$76.2 $76.2

56.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.13 $10.13

18.66%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.49 $5.49

-0.18%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.72 $2.72

10.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.14 $2.14

15.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.07 $6.07

18.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.96 $9.96

$8.04 $8.04

23.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.09 $1.09

9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.34 $3.34

-11.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$3.42 $3.42

108.19%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.32 $4.32

2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.51 $17.51

$11.80 $11.80

48.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$10.68 $10.68

4.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.67 $19.67

$14.50 $14.50

35.66%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.79 $4.79

26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.50 $1.50

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.51 $4.51

12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.04 $4.04

56.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.76 $2.76

27.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.79 $2.79

33.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.04 $2.04

30.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.15 $2.15

17.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.23 $9.23

33.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.05 $16.05

$14.81 $14.81

8.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.29 $2.29

22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.53 $3.53

27.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 $1.52

30.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.29 $4.29

-4.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.82 $1.82

-17.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$35.52 $35.52

-16.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.77 $0.77

23.38%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

17.94%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.3K $26.3K

-1.23%

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

$138 $138

$172 $172

-19.96%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$60.3 $60.3

0.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$67.2 $67.2

3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.04 $43.04

$62.8 $62.8

-31.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$17.22 $17.22

$14.73 $14.73

16.90%

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

$2,705 $2,705

$1,398 $1,398

93.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.1K $40.1K

$21.8K $21.8K

84.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 $80.8

$55.1 $55.1

46.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.68 $49.68

$45.66 $45.66

8.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.8 $86.8

17.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$115 $115

22.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$2,245 $2,245

-28.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 $1,365

$1,401 $1,401

-2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,603 $2,603

$3,782 $3,782

-31.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,202 $2,202

$2,708 $2,708

-18.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,277 $3,277

$3,331 $3,331

-1.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,480 $7,480

$4,910 $4,910

52.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

-6.98%

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

Last update for Stafford, VA: April 22, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,615 in Stafford, VA and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stafford, VA pays 52% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $119 in Stafford, VA vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $375 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

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

Stafford, VA pays 52% 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: $1,615 in Stafford, VA versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Stafford, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $119 in Stafford, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Austin, TX wins on affordability, Stafford, VA on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.