Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Great Falls, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Great Falls, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,226 in Great Falls, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,276 in Great Falls, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,326 in Great Falls, MT.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$11.33 $11.33

76.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$37.17 $37.17

105.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$14.45 $14.45

-29.90%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.10 $4.10

33.90%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.16 $2.16

25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.97 $1.97

8.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.83 $6.83

-11.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$3.84 $3.84

109.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.10 $1.10

-0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.28 $3.28

1.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$6.06 $6.06

-43.56%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.12 $3.12

38.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$14.02 $14.02

-15.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.64 $13.64

-21.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.81 $12.81

13.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.43 $4.43

8.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.47 $1.47

2.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.89 $4.89

-7.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.22 $3.22

25.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.77 $1.77

55.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.65 $1.65

69.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.20 $2.20

-7.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.89 $2.89

-25.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.16 $8.16

13.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$17.61 $17.61

-15.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.78 $1.78

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.15 $4.15

-14.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.03 $2.03

-25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

$30.17 $30.17

44.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.46 $2.46

74.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.63 $1.63

11.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$29.40 $29.40

20.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.86 $0.86

-10.47%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.86%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.90%

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

$172 $172

$159 $159

8.58%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$51.0 $51.0

18.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$76.3 $76.3

-11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$61.8 $61.8

1.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$12.03 $12.03

22.44%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$800 $800

74.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$32.5K $32.5K

-32.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$65.4 $65.4

-15.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$32.55 $32.55

40.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$70.7 $70.7

22.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$98.7 $98.7

16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,457 $1,457

54.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,059 $1,059

32.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,957 $1,957

93.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,821 $1,821

48.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,091 $2,091

249.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,094 $2,094

59.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,549 $3,549

38.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.62

-2.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,457 in Great Falls, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 38% 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 in Austin, TX vs $37 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $400, 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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 38% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,457 in Great Falls, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,719 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,226 in Great Falls, MT – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Great Falls, MT runs roughly 45% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Great Falls, MT 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 Great Falls, MT 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 Great Falls, 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.