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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,821 in Butte, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,852 in Butte, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,883 in Butte, MT.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 48% more expensive than in Butte, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Butte, MT 33% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$14.90 $14.90

33.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.4 $59.4

41.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.25 $9.25

32.97%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.20 $4.20

30.48%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.13 $2.13

74.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.33 $2.33

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$3.05 $3.05

154.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$4.87 $4.87

87.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.21 $1.21

-6.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.40 $2.40

56.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.88 $4.88

-29.71%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.77 $3.77

15.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$6.46 $6.46

103.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$7.40 $7.40

94.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.20 $19.20

-10.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.84 $4.84

-7.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.57 $1.57

-8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$1.74 $1.74

168.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.23 $2.23

122.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$0.53 $0.53

466.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.18 $2.18

23.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.83 $1.83

1.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.52 $1.52

43.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.98 $7.98

18.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$9.59 $9.59

57.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.97 $1.97

46.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.24 $2.24

55.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.86 $4.86

-42.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.60 $0.60

163.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$10.03 $10.03

250.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.04 $1.04

-13.46%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.3K $34.3K

4.74%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$26.7K $26.7K

3.54%

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

$222 $222

$141 $141

57.35%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$24.95 $24.95

133.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$70.6 $70.6

-2.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$10.53 $10.53

30.86%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,987 $1,987

-23.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$14.2K $14.2K

49.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$69.7 $69.7

-21.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$44.34 $44.34

-0.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$101 $101

-11.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$144 $144

-24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,029 $1,029

88.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$887 $887

41.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,820 $1,820

106.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,627 $1,627

59.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,291 $2,291

223.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,255 $2,255

42.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,791 $3,791

34.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Butte, MT: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,029 in Butte, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 34% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Butte, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $301 per month, with Butte, MT 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 Butte, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butte, MT wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butte, MT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 34% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,029 in Butte, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,987 in Butte, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Butte, MT – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,821 in Butte, MT versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Butte, MT but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Butte, 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 Butte, MT gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.