Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Idaho Falls, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Idaho Falls, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,194 in Idaho Falls, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,403 in Idaho Falls, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,612 in Idaho Falls, ID.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 21% more expensive than Idaho Falls, ID, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Idaho Falls, ID 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.47 $18.47

6.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$49.55 $49.55

51.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.01 $10.01

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.08 $5.08

11.61%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.27 $2.27

22.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.59 $1.59

36.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$3.93 $3.93

48.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.95 $6.95

11.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.24 $3.24

5.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.80 $3.80

-9.74%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.36 $4.36

0.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.62 $10.62

12.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$10.16 $10.16

5.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$12.16 $12.16

17.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$3.42 $3.42

41.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.40 $1.40

10.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.75 $2.75

62.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.81 $2.81

39.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.66 $1.66

65.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.91 $1.91

6.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.96 $1.96

14.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$9.22 $9.22

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$7.59 $7.59

95.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.49 $1.49

139.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.03 $2.03

-27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.51 $2.51

70.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.44 $1.44

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$25.03 $25.03

41.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.89 $0.89

-19.10%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

1.26%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.58%

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

$174 $174

$158 $158

9.89%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$43.06 $43.06

39.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$56.9 $56.9

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$37.71 $37.71

66.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$13.50 $13.50

12.89%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$965 $965

43.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$18.7K $18.7K

18.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$59.3 $59.3

-4.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$43.58 $43.58

4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$85.7 $85.7

0.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$93.2 $93.2

27.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$985 $985

128.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,146 $1,146

24.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,923 $1,923

96.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,215 $2,215

19.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,854 $1,854

279.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,839 $1,839

71.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,591 $3,591

42.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.32

2.06%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $985 in Idaho Falls, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 42% 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 $50.0 in Idaho Falls, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $312 per month, with Idaho Falls, ID 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 Idaho Falls, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Falls, ID wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Idaho Falls, ID the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 42% 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 $985 in Idaho Falls, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $965 in Idaho Falls, ID. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Idaho Falls, ID – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,194 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Idaho Falls, ID but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Idaho Falls, ID 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 Idaho Falls, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.