Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Williston, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Williston, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Austin, TX versus $2,082 in Williston, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,139 in Austin, TX versus $3,596 in Williston, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,545 in Austin, TX versus $5,109 in Williston, ND.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 31% more expensive than in Williston, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 105% above, Williston, ND 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.47 $19.47

$18.62 $18.62

4.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$74.8 $74.8

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$10.84 $10.84

-8.76%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.10 $5.10

7.65%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.53 $2.53

6.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.02 $2.02

5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.90 $5.90

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.96 $6.96

13.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.94 $0.94

22.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.07 $2.07

61.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.24 $4.24

-17.92%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.22 $4.22

4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$30.55 $30.55

-61.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 $10.65

$12.48 $12.48

-14.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.98 $13.98

5.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.90 $4.90

-2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.56 $1.56

0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.27 $4.27

2.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.74 $4.74

-15.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.77 $2.77

-2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.90 $2.90

-2.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.11 $2.11

-3.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.11 $2.11

6.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$9.36 $9.36

-6.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$15.18 $15.18

-0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.84 $1.84

23.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.30 $3.30

5.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.02 $2.02

-24.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.99 $43.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.44 $3.44

25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.66 $1.66

9.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$29.51 $29.51

19.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.03 $1.03

-29.13%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$29.7K $29.7K

-12.91%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.67%

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

$172 $172

$185 $185

-7.06%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$53.0 $53.0

10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$75.5 $75.5

-12.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$43.45 $43.45

46.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.15 $10.15

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$13.59 $13.59

10.74%

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

$1,399 $1,399

$1,302 $1,302

7.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K $22.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

-5.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$51.9 $51.9

8.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.66 $46.66

$39.89 $39.89

16.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 $86.4

$86.1 $86.1

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$112 $112

6.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,228 $2,228

$958 $958

132.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,399 $1,399

$850 $850

64.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,821 $3,821

$2,606 $2,606

46.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,227 $2,227

18.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,237 $7,237

$2,117 $2,117

241.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,133 $2,133

46.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,009 $5,009

$5,794 $5,794

-13.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.51

-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 26, 2026

Last update for Williston, ND: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,228 in Austin, TX and $958 in Williston, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Williston, ND pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $75.0 in Williston, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $429 per month, with Austin, TX 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 Williston, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Williston, ND wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Williston, ND the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Williston, ND. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,228 in Austin, TX versus $958 in Williston, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,399 in Austin, TX versus $1,302 in Williston, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

At $2,082 in Williston, ND versus $2,732 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Williston, ND but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.