Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bowling Green, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Bowling Green, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,350 in Bowling Green, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,353 in Bowling Green, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $4,356 in Bowling Green, OH.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than Bowling Green, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Bowling Green, OH 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.85 $19.85

$11.87 $11.87

67.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$45.78 $45.78

62.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$9.95 $9.95

0.80%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$4.12 $4.12

33.98%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.27 $2.27

22.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.13 $2.13

-1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.09 $4.09

47.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$4.07 $4.07

91.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.56 $0.56

101.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.13 $2.13

61.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$1.98 $1.98

72.73%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$3.90 $3.90

12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$9.53 $9.53

28.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.79 $10.79

$5.97 $5.97

80.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.36 $14.36

$20.47 $20.47

-29.85%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.42 $4.42

12.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.08 $1.08

39.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.37 $4.37

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.34 $5.34

-25.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.67 $3.67

-25.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.29 $4.29

-35.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.00 $2.00

-1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.48 $1.48

54.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.74 $8.74

$8.09 $8.09

8.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$11.78 $11.78

25.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.69 $1.69

33.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.80 $3.80

-5.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.09 $43.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 $4.45

$5.05 $5.05

-11.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.61 $1.61

12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.30 $35.30

$50.4 $50.4

-29.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.86 $0.86

-13.95%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.0K $30.0K

-14.87%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$31.0K $31.0K

-14.84%

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

$170 $170

$128 $128

32.38%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$57.6 $57.6

4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$41.04 $41.04

63.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$42.22 $42.22

45.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$9.85 $9.85

53.71%

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

$1,381 $1,381

$954 $954

44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.2K $23.2K

-6.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$51.0 $51.0

11.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.94 $45.94

$47.23 $47.23

-2.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$94.2 $94.2

-8.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$101 $101

18.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,572 $1,572

38.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,332 $1,332

6.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,801 $3,801

$2,636 $2,636

44.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,711 $2,711

$2,203 $2,203

23.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,204 $7,204

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,239 $3,239

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,914 $4,914

$4,388 $4,388

11.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.61

-2.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, OH: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $1,572 in Bowling Green, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 12% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $46.00 in Bowling Green, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $328 per month, with Bowling Green, OH 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 Bowling Green, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bowling Green, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bowling Green, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 12% more on average, 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: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $1,572 in Bowling Green, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $954 in Bowling Green, OH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bowling Green, OH – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bowling Green, OH 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 Bowling Green, OH 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 Bowling Green, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.