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: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $1,920 in Big Rapids, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $2,803 in Big Rapids, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $3,686 in Big Rapids, MI.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 38% more expensive than in Big Rapids, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Big Rapids, MI 39% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$18.58 $18.58

7.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$58.9 $58.9

42.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$8.04 $8.04

52.61%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.33 $5.33

5.63%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$2.87 $2.87

25.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.15 $2.15

10.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.35 $6.35

23.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$7.78 $7.78

16.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.83 $0.83

37.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.36 $3.36

8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.17 $2.17

52.53%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.71 $3.71

19.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$16.97 $16.97

-23.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$13.38 $13.38

9.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.89 $14.89

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.37 $3.37

36.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.58 $0.58

150.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.68 $3.68

29.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.56 $4.56

8.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.28 $2.28

32.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.72 $2.72

0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.29 $2.29

-14.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.97 $1.97

11.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$10.09 $10.09

-8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$13.76 $13.76

8.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.16 $2.16

32.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.96 $2.96

21.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.98 $1.98

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$23.82 $23.82

75.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.99 $2.99

-5.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.57 $1.57

1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$25.91 $25.91

33.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.07 $1.07

-11.21%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$34.9K $34.9K

2.28%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

13.15%

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

$229 $229

$199 $199

15.39%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$58.4 $58.4

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$71.5 $71.5

-3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$35.56 $35.56

85.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$13.26 $13.26

4.52%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$2,056 $2,056

-27.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$20.2K $20.2K

3.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$56.6 $56.6

-5.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$35.68 $35.68

24.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$86.0 $86.0

5.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$105 $105

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$884 $884

118.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$680 $680

86.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$1,579 $1,579

139.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$1,039 $1,039

149.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$3,048 $3,048

140.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$2,212 $2,212

46.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.68

13.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $884 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Big Rapids, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $375 per month, with Big Rapids, MI 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

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

Big Rapids, MI wins on cost – living expenses run 38% 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 $3,969 in Austin, TX and $2,880 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $884 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,920 in Big Rapids, MI – a 38% 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 76% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,920 in Big Rapids, MI versus $2,646 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Big Rapids, MI but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Big Rapids, MI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 38% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.