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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,279 in Great Falls, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,260 in Great Falls, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,241 in Great Falls, MT.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 17% more expensive than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Great Falls, MT 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$11.62 $11.62

68.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$36.80 $36.80

104.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$14.26 $14.26

-30.43%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.22 $4.22

34.36%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.23 $2.23

24.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.05 $2.05

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.96 $6.96

-16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$3.76 $3.76

106.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.07 $1.07

1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.34 $3.34

2.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$6.33 $6.33

-45.81%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.15 $3.15

39.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$13.76 $13.76

-13.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$13.85 $13.85

-22.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$12.47 $12.47

14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.49 $4.49

7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.46 $1.46

6.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.77 $4.77

-6.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.36 $3.36

16.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.86 $1.86

47.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.65 $1.65

66.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.22 $2.22

-8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.85 $2.85

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.82 $7.82

14.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$17.66 $17.66

-15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.32 $4.32

-17.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$29.88 $29.88

43.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.47 $2.47

73.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.61 $1.61

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$28.99 $28.99

22.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.87 $0.87

-17.24%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.1K $30.1K

-14.59%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.11%

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

$174 $174

$156 $156

11.37%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.6 $52.6

14.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$76.3 $76.3

-13.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$62.5 $62.5

0.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$12.07 $12.07

26.26%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$802 $802

73.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$31.6K $31.6K

-29.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$66.5 $66.5

-14.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$32.90 $32.90

37.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$71.3 $71.3

21.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$98.4 $98.4

20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,451 $1,451

54.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,050 $1,050

36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,013 $2,013

87.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,790 $1,790

47.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,080 $2,080

238.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,096 $2,096

50.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,478 $3,478

46.86%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,451 in Great Falls, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 47% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $402, 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 17% 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 47% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,451 in Great Falls, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,279 in Great Falls, MT – a 17% 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 44% 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 17% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.