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: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,201 in Great Falls, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,041 in Great Falls, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $3,881 in Great Falls, MT.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 23% more expensive than in Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Great Falls, MT 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$11.60 $11.60

69.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$36.87 $36.87

129.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.41 $9.41

30.71%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$4.14 $4.14

31.64%

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

$3.62 $3.62

$2.31 $2.31

56.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.94 $1.94

24.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.86 $5.86

34.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$5.91 $5.91

50.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.42 $3.42

7.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.10 $5.10

-34.51%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$3.26 $3.26

31.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$17.18 $17.18

-24.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$10.81 $10.81

31.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$11.91 $11.91

40.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.75 $4.75

-5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 $1.33

6.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.07 $4.07

12.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.24 $2.24

108.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.44 $2.44

11.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.91 $2.91

-11.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.28 $2.28

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$3.27 $3.27

-33.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$8.65 $8.65

16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$18.33 $18.33

-17.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.97 $1.97

48.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.40 $4.40

-25.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$29.63 $29.63

40.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$6.16 $6.16

-56.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.35 $1.35

22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$40.34 $40.34

-13.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.90 $0.90

-1.11%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$34.3K $34.3K

6.27%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.8K $25.8K

5.05%

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

$223 $223

$132 $132

68.71%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$38.81 $38.81

47.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$70.2 $70.2

-2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$63.1 $63.1

3.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$11.72 $11.72

19.03%

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

$1,523 $1,523

$937 $937

62.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$14.2K $14.2K

50.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$24.94 $24.94

112.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$29.70 $29.70

44.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$80.4 $80.4

6.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$64.9 $64.9

58.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,420 $1,420

37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,124 $1,124

12.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,676 $2,676

40.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$1,637 $1,637

55.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,050 $2,050

250.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,089 $2,089

50.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$3,554 $3,554

39.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.08

6.41%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,420 in Great Falls, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 39% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $37.00 in Great Falls, MT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $396 per month, with Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls, MT wins on cost – living expenses run 23% 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.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,420 in Great Falls, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,201 in Great Falls, MT – a 23% 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 40% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,201 in Great Falls, MT versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Great Falls, MT but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Great Falls, 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.

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 23% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.