Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between University Place, WA and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,737 in University Place, WA versus $2,715 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,118 in University Place, WA versus $4,156 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,499 in University Place, WA versus $5,596 in Austin, TX.

Living in University Place, WA is roughly 1% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: University Place, WA 100% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.47 $22.47

$19.66 $19.66

14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 $122

$84.6 $84.6

44.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 $11.96

$12.30 $12.30

-2.76%

Cappuccino

$6.08 $6.08

$5.45 $5.45

11.56%

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

$3.25 $3.25

$3.62 $3.62

-10.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.41 $2.41

9.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.99 $7.99

$7.91 $7.91

1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$8.89 $8.89

36.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.68 $3.68

9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.34 $3.34

-14.97%

Eggs

$5.31 $5.31

$4.29 $4.29

23.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.00 $13.00

13.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$22.23 $22.23

$14.24 $14.24

56.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.30 $23.30

$16.68 $16.68

39.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$4.49 $4.49

21.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.42 $1.42

19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.59 $4.59

20.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.67 $4.67

-7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.71 $2.71

1.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.58 $2.58

12.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.89 $1.89

5.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.19 $2.19

34.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.84 $11.84

$10.04 $10.04

17.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.27 $18.27

$15.08 $15.08

21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.92 $2.92

-41.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.29 $3.29

10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.53 $1.53

12.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.70 $2.70

-1.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.65 $1.65

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$35.05 $35.05

-15.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.89 $0.89

56.18%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

0.10%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.1K $27.1K

-3.59%

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

$158 $158

$223 $223

-29.10%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$57.4 $57.4

-7.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.6 $85.6

$68.3 $68.3

25.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.55 $41.55

$65.6 $65.6

-36.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$19.29 $19.29

$13.95 $13.95

38.28%

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

$1,924 $1,924

$1,523 $1,523

26.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$21.4K $21.4K

47.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 $61.0

$53.1 $53.1

14.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.12 $37.12

$42.81 $42.81

-13.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$85.3 $85.3

18.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$103 $103

10.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 $1,564

$1,948 $1,948

-19.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$1,267 $1,267

2.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$3,765 $3,765

-32.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 $2,106

$2,553 $2,553

-17.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,021 $3,021

$7,179 $7,179

-57.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,249 $2,249

$3,140 $3,140

-28.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,023 $8,023

$4,955 $4,955

61.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

6.47

-6.80%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,564 in University Place, WA and $1,948 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 62% 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: $122 in University Place, WA vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $499 vs $409 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in University Place, WA. 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 62% higher in University Place, WA, 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: $1,564 in University Place, WA versus $1,948 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,924 in University Place, WA versus $1,523 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $122 in University Place, WA. 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.

Safety-wise, University Place, 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in University Place, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.