Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Washington, DC and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,801 in Washington, DC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,013 in Washington, DC versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,224 in Washington, DC versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Washington, DC is roughly 43% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Washington, DC 184% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.56 $27.56

$19.63 $19.63

40.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$75.1 $75.1

59.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.92 $11.92

$9.92 $9.92

20.16%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.67 $5.67

3.00%

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

$3.14 $3.14

$2.77 $2.77

13.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.17 $2.17

23.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 $7.95

$5.84 $5.84

36.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.77 $7.77

26.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.09 $1.09

5.50%

White Bread (500g)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.41 $3.41

34.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.09 $7.09

$3.43 $3.43

106.71%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$4.39 $4.39

1.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.57 $17.57

$11.95 $11.95

47.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$10.76 $10.76

40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.58 $19.58

$14.29 $14.29

37.02%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.84 $4.84

27.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.55 $1.55

33.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.46 $4.46

15.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$3.91 $3.91

66.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.74 $2.74

31.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.74 $2.74

41.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.04 $2.04

30.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.25 $2.25

9.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.29 $12.29

$8.93 $8.93

37.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$14.85 $14.85

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.35 $2.35

21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.57 $3.57

27.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.47 $1.47

84.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$42.98 $42.98

75.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.28 $4.28

-7.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.84 $1.84

31.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$35.54 $35.54

-16.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.72 $0.72

22.22%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

14.92%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.19%

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

$212 $212

$174 $174

22.18%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$60.2 $60.2

0.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 $67.8

$66.3 $66.3

2.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 $110

$62.8 $62.8

75.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.59 $38.59

$9.83 $9.83

292.57%

Cinema Ticket

$17.30 $17.30

$15.24 $15.24

13.52%

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

$2,652 $2,652

$1,387 $1,387

91.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.5K $39.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

78.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 $81.2

$56.7 $56.7

43.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 $50.0

$45.34 $45.34

10.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$86.5 $86.5

17.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$119 $119

22.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$2,247 $2,247

15.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,100 $2,100

$1,430 $1,430

46.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,946 $5,946

$3,778 $3,778

57.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,197 $4,197

$2,641 $2,641

58.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,729 $8,729

$7,044 $7,044

23.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,298 $3,298

$3,162 $3,162

4.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,965 $6,965

$5,108 $5,108

36.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.45

0.47%

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

Last update for Washington, DC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,591 in Washington, DC and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Washington, DC pays 36% 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: $120 in Washington, DC vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $501 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

Washington, DC vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Washington, DC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Washington, DC pays 36% 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: $2,591 in Washington, DC 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 $3,801 per month in Washington, DC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 75% less than in Washington, DC. 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 43% less than in Washington, DC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.