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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,223 in Billings, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,395 in Billings, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,568 in Billings, MT.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than in Billings, MT, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Billings, MT 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$20.13 $20.13

-2.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$60.8 $60.8

24.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$14.46 $14.46

-31.81%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.60 $5.60

-2.14%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.13 $2.13

24.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.63 $2.63

-20.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.46 $4.46

36.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$5.12 $5.12

59.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.26 $1.26

-12.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.22 $4.22

-19.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.10 $4.10

-17.56%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.12 $3.12

40.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$14.44 $14.44

-16.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$12.34 $12.34

-12.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$15.87 $15.87

-7.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.39 $4.39

12.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.40 $1.40

7.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.94 $3.94

11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$6.11 $6.11

-32.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.86 $1.86

51.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.12 $3.12

-8.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.44 $2.44

-20.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.33 $1.33

63.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$9.33 $9.33

-3.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.17 $13.17

14.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.25 $2.25

3.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.03 $4.03

-14.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.04 $2.04

-24.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$28.27 $28.27

56.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.56 $2.56

72.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.67 $1.67

9.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$29.39 $29.39

17.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.82 $0.82

-4.88%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$21.6K $21.6K

20.06%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

2.99%

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

$175 $175

$156 $156

11.78%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$50.1 $50.1

19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$69.2 $69.2

-5.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$48.25 $48.25

26.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.14 $14.14

4.38%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$992 $992

38.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$32.1K $32.1K

-30.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$56.1 $56.1

0.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$66.2 $66.2

-31.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$102 $102

-16.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$123 $123

-3.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,159 $1,159

89.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$927 $927

51.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,125 $2,125

79.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,887 $1,887

42.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,367 $2,367

201.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,134 $2,134

44.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,906 $3,906

30.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,159 in Billings, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 31% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Billings, MT. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $396, with Austin, TX 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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT wins on cost – living expenses run 22% 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 31% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,159 in Billings, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,223 in Billings, MT – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Billings, MT runs roughly 56% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,223 in Billings, MT versus $2,706 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 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.