Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bowling Green, OH and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Bowling Green, OH: $979 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $19,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bowling Green, OH, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Bowling Green, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$979
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bowling Green, OH and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bowling Green, OH and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $979 in Bowling Green, OH versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

  • Bowling Green, OH $979
  • Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,988 in Bowling Green, OH versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

  • Bowling Green, OH $1,988
  • Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,997 in Bowling Green, OH versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

  • Bowling Green, OH $2,997
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Bowling Green, OH costs roughly 62% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bowling Green, OH is 28% below, Austin, TX is 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.12 $12.12
$20.35 $20.35
-40.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.47 $44.47
$84.7 $84.7
-47.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.88 $9.88
$12.12 $12.12
-18.48%
Cappuccino
$4.44 $4.44
$5.65 $5.65
-21.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$3.68 $3.68
-37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.36 $2.36
-1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.96 $3.96
$7.87 $7.87
-49.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 $3.91
$8.82 $8.82
-55.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.62 $0.62
$1.14 $1.14
-45.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.69 $3.69
-28.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.31 $3.31
-39.27%
Eggs
$2.99 $2.99
$4.15 $4.15
-27.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 $7.33
$12.98 $12.98
-43.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$13.86 $13.86
-55.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.32 $22.32
$16.34 $16.34
36.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.95 $5.95
$4.69 $4.69
26.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.45 $1.45
-10.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$5.11 $5.11
-24.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$4.52 $4.52
-6.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.08 $3.08
-34.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.38 $2.38
-26.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.80 $1.80
32.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.22 $2.22
-42.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.07 $11.07
$9.97 $9.97
11.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.05 $12.05
$15.05 $15.05
-19.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.91 $2.91
-30.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.33 $3.33
8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 $1.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.53 $40.53
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 $5.15
$2.78 $2.78
85.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.65 $1.65
13.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.42 $49.42
$35.39 $35.39
39.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.95 $0.95
4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$34.2K $34.2K
-18.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
-0.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 $132
$223 $223
-40.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.2 $51.2
$58.5 $58.5
-12.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.04 $41.04
$71.2 $71.2
-42.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.80 $34.80
$53.0 $53.0
-34.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.73 $24.73
$16.75 $16.75
47.64%
Cinema Ticket
$12.54 $12.54
$14.06 $14.06
-10.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$1,459 $1,459
-7.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$21.3K $21.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 $53.1
$52.5 $52.5
1.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47 $39.47
$42.75 $42.75
-7.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 $106
$86.4 $86.4
23.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2 $94.2
$104 $104
-9.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 $742
$2,112 $2,112
-64.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,230 $1,230
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,863 $3,863
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$834 $834
$2,407 $2,407
-65.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,426 $7,426
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,060 $3,060
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bowling Green, OH
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,371 $4,371
$5,179 $5,179
-15.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
6.82
-8.50%

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

Last update for Bowling Green, OH: October 24, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Bowling Green, OH
$323
Austin, TX
$410 27% $87
Eating Out
Bowling Green, OH
$226
Austin, TX
$348 54.1% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bowling Green, OH
$224
Austin, TX
$353 57.2% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Bowling Green, OH
$132
Austin, TX
$128 2.6% $3.4
Sport & Entertainment
Bowling Green, OH
$60
Austin, TX
$81 35.5% $21
Getting Around
Bowling Green, OH
$15 *
Austin, TX
$56 288% $42
Accommodation & Living
Bowling Green, OH
- *
Austin, TX
$1.2K

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Bowling Green, OH and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 19% 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: $44 in Bowling Green, OH vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $410 per month, with Bowling Green, OH cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bowling Green, OH
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
09:05 9:05 AM
08:05 8:05 AM
1 h behind Bowling Green, OH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
53,176
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bowling Green, OH Austin, TX 1,770 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bowling Green, OH
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bowling Green, OH vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bowling Green, OH or Austin, TX?
Bowling Green, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Bowling Green, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bowling Green, OH or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Bowling Green, OH. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bowling Green, OH compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Bowling Green, OH versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bowling Green, OH and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,355 in Bowling Green, OH versus $1,459 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bowling Green, OH and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Bowling Green, OH – a meal for two runs $44 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Bowling Green, OH or in Austin, TX?
At $979 in Bowling Green, OH versus $2,607 in Austin, TX, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Bowling Green, OH but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bowling Green, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bowling Green, OH or Austin, TX?
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.
Should I move to Bowling Green, OH or to Austin, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Bowling Green, OH wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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