Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Big Rapids, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Big Rapids, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,531 in Big Rapids, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,619 in Big Rapids, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,707 in Big Rapids, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Big Rapids, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Big Rapids, MI 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$15.19 $15.19

31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$75.2 $75.2

-1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$7.95 $7.95

23.90%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.68 $4.68

23.72%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.65 $2.65

3.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.05 $6.05

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.13 $6.13

32.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.77 $0.77

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.33 $3.33

-1.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.22 $2.22

51.80%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$2.69 $2.69

60.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$16.80 $16.80

-28.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$10.23 $10.23

3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.15 $14.15

3.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.53 $3.53

42.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$0.59 $0.59

166.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.43 $4.43

-1.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.19 $5.19

-21.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.21 $2.21

25.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.74 $2.74

2.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.66 $1.66

18.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.25 $2.25

-0.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$10.07 $10.07

-13.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.69 $13.69

7.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.84 $2.84

22.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$23.54 $23.54

81.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.95 $2.95

46.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.54 $1.54

16.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$26.76 $26.76

31.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.89 $0.89

-10.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

0.50%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.1K $24.1K

11.54%

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

$173 $173

$156 $156

11.42%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$48.26 $48.26

21.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$67.0 $67.0

0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.61 $42.61

45.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.56 $12.56

17.83%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,958 $1,958

-27.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$20.1K $20.1K

9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.3 $53.3

2.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$34.54 $34.54

35.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$85.3 $85.3

2.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$103 $103

16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,591 $1,591

38.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,328 $1,328

7.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,625 $2,625

43.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,202 $2,202

22.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,390 $2,390

206.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,247 $2,247

39.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

5.68

13.56%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,591 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Big Rapids, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $358, with Big Rapids, MI cheaper for home cooking.

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

Austin, TX vs Big Rapids, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Big Rapids, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Big Rapids, MI the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,052 in Austin, TX and $3,796 in Big Rapids, MI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,591 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,531 in Big Rapids, MI – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Big Rapids, MI runs roughly 82% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Big Rapids, MI 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, Austin, TX and Big Rapids, MI 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 Big Rapids, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.