Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Billings, MT

For one person, living is cheaper in Billings, MT: $2,260 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
110

Cost of Living Index in Billings, MT
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Billings, MT Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Billings, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,260

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Billings, MT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Billings, MT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $2,260 in Billings, MT.

Austin, TX $2,663
Billings, MT $2,260

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $3,500 in Billings, MT.

Austin, TX $4,133
Billings, MT $3,500

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $4,739 in Billings, MT.

Austin, TX $5,603
Billings, MT $4,739

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 18% more expensive than in Billings, MT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 97% above, Billings, MT 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.77 $20.77

$26.42 $26.42

-21.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$74.7 $74.7

13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 $12.32

$13.32 $13.32

-7.51%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$6.18 $6.18

-8.90%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.46 $2.46

51.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.59 $1.59

57.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$4.07 $4.07

97.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.01 $9.01

$4.88 $4.88

84.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.05 $1.05

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.54 $3.54

5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.10 $3.10

5.16%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$3.07 $3.07

35.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 $12.90

$11.84 $11.84

8.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$11.65 $11.65

21.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$17.45 $17.45

-7.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$3.57 $3.57

21.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.44 $1.44

1.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.99 $2.99

50.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.49 $4.49

-3.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.18 $1.18

118.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 $2.02

16.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.30 $2.30

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.42 $1.42

56.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$9.45 $9.45

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.92 $10.92

38.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.20 $2.20

32.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$5.07 $5.07

-31.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.96 $1.96

-23.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.72 $41.72

$27.77 $27.77

50.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.44 $2.44

11.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.35 $1.35

22.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$59.1 $59.1

-40.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.03 $1.03

-7.77%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$33.0K $33.0K

9.07%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.3K $24.3K

11.20%

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

$229 $229

$176 $176

30.28%

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

$59.4 $59.4

$49.08 $49.08

21.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$85.9 $85.9

-18.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$48.69 $48.69

17.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 $16.33

$15.19 $15.19

7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$14.28 $14.28

$13.57 $13.57

5.23%

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

$1,506 $1,506

$1,074 $1,074

40.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$19.1K $19.1K

12.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$61.2 $61.2

-13.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$67.0 $67.0

-34.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$97.5 $97.5

-13.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$121 $121

-14.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$1,262 $1,262

51.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 $1,274

$947 $947

34.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,110 $2,110

73.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 $2,538

$1,818 $1,818

39.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,614 $7,614

$2,393 $2,393

218.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,157 $3,157

$2,096 $2,096

50.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,121 $5,121

$3,936 $3,936

30.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.4

6.09%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8%

Billings, MT

$947 41.9% 25.7% $328

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$405 15.2%

Billings, MT

$354 15.7% 12.4% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$358 13.5%

Billings, MT

$311 13.8% 13.3% $48

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$354 13.3%

Billings, MT

$372 16.5% 5.1% $18

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$128 4.8%

Billings, MT

$156 6.9% 21.9% $28

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Billings, MT

$76 3.4% 11.6% $10

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$59 2.2%

Billings, MT

$45 2% 23.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $1,262 in Billings, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 30% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Billings, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $354 per month, with Billings, MT cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Billings, MT

🕒 Local time

12:49 12:49 PM

11:49 11:49 AM

1 h behind Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

117,116

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Billings, MT 1,960 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Billings, MT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Billings, MT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 30% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $1,262 in Billings, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,260 in Billings, MT – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Billings, MT runs roughly 50% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,260 in Billings, MT versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Billings, MT but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Billings, MT 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.

Expats usually find Billings, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.