Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Montross, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Montross, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,436 in Montross, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $3,488 in Montross, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $4,539 in Montross, VA.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 12% more expensive than Montross, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Montross, VA 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$24.41 $24.41

-20.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$37.54 $37.54

96.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$11.20 $11.20

-9.02%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$1.95 $1.95

192.82%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$1.96 $1.96

35.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.63 $2.63

-16.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.92 $3.92

50.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.92 $6.92

16.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.21 $1.21

-9.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$2.05 $2.05

64.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.76 $6.76

-50.59%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$4.21 $4.21

5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$5.73 $5.73

107.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$14.86 $14.86

-27.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$7.36 $7.36

93.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.88 $2.88

67.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.11 $1.11

38.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.64 $2.64

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.67 $5.67

-29.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$4.23 $4.23

-32.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.27 $3.27

-14.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.12 $1.12

74.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.83 $0.83

167.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$3.80 $3.80

138.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$16.97 $16.97

-11.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.96 $1.96

16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.37 $3.37

0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.99 $1.99

-25.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.92 $2.92

47.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.58 $1.58

12.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$25.25 $25.25

36.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.83 $0.83

-9.64%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$30.6K $30.6K

-17.62%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

5.66%

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

$176 $176

$125 $125

40.07%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$43.72 $43.72

36.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$70.2 $70.2

-4.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$43.81 $43.81

42.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$14.97 $14.97

0.47%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,918 $1,918

-27.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$36.5K $36.5K

-38.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$57.0 $57.0

-1.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$54.6 $54.6

-14.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$92.0 $92.0

-5.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$117 $117

1.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,608 $1,608

35.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,352 $1,352

6.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,605 $2,605

44.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,188 $2,188

23.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$2,402 $2,402

192.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$2,190 $2,190

42.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.55

-1.53%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: June 8, 2026

Last update for Montross, VA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,608 in Montross, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $38.00 in Montross, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $334 per month, with Montross, VA 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 Montross, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montross, VA wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montross, VA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,078 in Austin, TX and $3,654 in Montross, VA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,608 in Montross, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,918 in Montross, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Montross, VA – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Montross, VA 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.

Expats usually find Montross, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.