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: $2,693 in University Place, WA versus $2,701 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,985 in University Place, WA versus $4,086 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,276 in University Place, WA versus $5,470 in Austin, TX.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: University Place, WA 102% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.66 $16.66

$19.97 $19.97

-16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$117 $117

$74.5 $74.5

56.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.60 $12.60

$9.85 $9.85

27.92%

Cappuccino

$6.02 $6.02

$5.79 $5.79

3.97%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$2.75 $2.75

6.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.17 $2.17

13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.98 $5.98

54.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.11 $8.11

45.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.10 $1.10

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.28 $3.28

28.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.37 $3.37

-17.51%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$4.31 $4.31

9.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 $11.38

$12.02 $12.02

-5.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.58 $10.58

52.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.49 $19.49

$14.59 $14.59

33.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.04 $5.04

-0.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.57 $1.57

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.38 $4.38

15.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.07 $4.07

-8.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.77 $2.77

22.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.82 $2.82

-2.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.96 $1.96

0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.23 $2.23

35.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.02 $11.02

$8.75 $8.75

25.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 $18.74

$14.71 $14.71

27.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.34 $2.34

-25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.47 $3.47

-1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 $1.52

30.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.31 $4.31

-38.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.80 $1.80

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.69 $29.69

$35.23 $35.23

-15.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.80 $0.80

48.75%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

16.81%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.02%

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

$157 $157

$173 $173

-9.75%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$58.5 $58.5

-9.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.5 $89.5

$67.1 $67.1

33.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.32 $43.32

$61.8 $61.8

-29.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$17.77 $17.77

$14.80 $14.80

20.07%

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

$2,070 $2,070

$1,414 $1,414

46.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$22.1K $22.1K

34.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 $59.4

$54.9 $54.9

8.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.81 $36.81

$46.67 $46.67

-21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$87.6 $87.6

12.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$119 $119

-3.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,615 $1,615

$2,200 $2,200

-26.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$1,428 $1,428

-3.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,664 $2,664

$3,769 $3,769

-29.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,258 $2,258

$2,704 $2,704

-16.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,758 $2,758

$7,334 $7,334

-62.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,148 $2,148

$3,140 $3,140

-31.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,932 $7,932

$5,093 $5,093

55.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for University Place, WA: July 21, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,615 in University Place, WA and $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

University Place, WA pays 56% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $117 in University Place, WA vs $74.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $376 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

Average pay runs 56% 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: $1,615 in University Place, WA versus $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Austin, TX pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in University Place, WA – a meal for two runs $117 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. University Place, WA 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.

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