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: $3,735 in Washington, DC versus $2,706 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,928 in Washington, DC versus $4,169 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,122 in Washington, DC versus $5,633 in Austin, TX.

Living in Washington, DC is roughly 38% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Washington, DC 180% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.01 $28.01

$19.70 $19.70

42.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$76.0 $76.0

56.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$9.86 $9.86

23.12%

Cappuccino

$5.97 $5.97

$5.48 $5.48

8.94%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.65 $2.65

12.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.09 $2.09

29.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.09 $6.09

32.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.81 $9.81

$8.15 $8.15

20.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.10 $1.10

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.39 $3.39

31.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.38 $3.38

111.24%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.39 $4.39

-3.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.96 $17.96

$12.10 $12.10

48.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$10.84 $10.84

40.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.20 $19.20

$14.68 $14.68

30.79%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$4.96 $4.96

21.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.51 $1.51

33.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.40 $4.40

17.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$4.10 $4.10

55.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.81 $2.81

23.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.87 $2.87

31.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.95 $1.95

37.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.18 $2.18

16.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.36 $12.36

$8.99 $8.99

37.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 $15.82

$15.11 $15.11

4.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.33 $2.33

21.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.43 $3.43

34.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.54 $1.54

82.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.4 $76.4

$44.15 $44.15

73.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 $3.90

$4.41 $4.41

-11.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.83 $1.83

33.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.52 $29.52

$34.65 $34.65

-14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.78 $0.78

15.38%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

15.45%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.67%

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

$210 $210

$175 $175

20.15%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$59.7 $59.7

0.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$65.5 $65.5

4.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 $112

$61.3 $61.3

82.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.83 $37.83

$9.89 $9.89

282.51%

Cinema Ticket

$16.73 $16.73

$14.76 $14.76

13.35%

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

$2,739 $2,739

$1,372 $1,372

99.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$22.2K $22.2K

83.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.0 $80.0

$56.5 $56.5

41.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.76 $49.76

$45.29 $45.29

9.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$85.0 $85.0

21.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$118 $118

22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 $2,577

$2,201 $2,201

17.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,077 $2,077

$1,403 $1,403

48.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,794 $5,794

$3,815 $3,815

51.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,168 $4,168

$2,680 $2,680

55.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,594 $8,594

$7,133 $7,133

20.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,318 $3,318

$3,078 $3,078

7.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,009 $7,009

$5,110 $5,110

37.15%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,577 in Washington, DC and $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Washington, DC pays 37% 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: $119 in Washington, DC vs $76.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $499 vs $379 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 38% 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.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Washington, DC, 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: $2,577 in Washington, DC versus $2,201 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,735 per month in Washington, DC versus $2,706 in Austin, TX – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 73% 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 $2,706 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 38% less than in Washington, DC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.