Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,115 in Helena, MT versus $2,646 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,528 in Helena, MT versus $4,220 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,941 in Helena, MT versus $5,794 in Austin, TX.

Living in Helena, MT is roughly 18% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Helena, MT 126% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.80 $21.80

$19.88 $19.88

9.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$84.0 $84.0

20.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.74 $17.74

$12.27 $12.27

44.58%

Cappuccino

$5.10 $5.10

$5.63 $5.63

-9.41%

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

$2.25 $2.25

$3.59 $3.59

-37.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.38 $2.38

-27.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.95 $4.95

$7.83 $7.83

-36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$9.10 $9.10

-22.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.14 $1.14

-9.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.64 $3.64

5.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$3.31 $3.31

39.58%

Eggs

$3.69 $3.69

$4.44 $4.44

-16.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.23 $18.23

$13.01 $13.01

40.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.90 $8.90

$14.69 $14.69

-39.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.74 $19.74

$17.42 $17.42

13.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.61 $4.61

4.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.45 $1.45

24.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.76 $4.76

-7.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.95 $4.95

-16.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.01 $3.01

-26.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.74 $2.74

-45.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.95 $1.95

-15.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.20 $2.20

-29.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.40 $10.40

$9.26 $9.26

12.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 $13.05

$14.90 $14.90

-12.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.87 $2.87

-40.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.59 $3.59

-27.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.65 $1.65

116.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 $60.5

$41.90 $41.90

44.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 $10.05

$2.82 $2.82

256.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.59 $1.59

113.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.55 $44.55

$34.68 $34.68

28.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.95 $0.95

-1.05%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$35.7K $35.7K

1.30%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$26.9K $26.9K

13.44%

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

$371 $371

$229 $229

62.01%

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

$67.0 $67.0

$58.6 $58.6

14.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$92.7 $92.7

$69.3 $69.3

33.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 $51.8

$65.8 $65.8

-21.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.75 $14.75

1.08%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 $11.85

$13.86 $13.86

-14.50%

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

$1,995 $1,995

$1,501 $1,501

32.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$20.9K $20.9K

32.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 $63.8

$53.7 $53.7

18.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$120 $120

$44.41 $44.41

169.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 $82.1

$90.8 $90.8

-9.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$108 $108

12.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,767 $1,767

$1,931 $1,931

-8.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$1,265 $1,265

22.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,864 $2,864

$3,776 $3,776

-24.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,506 $2,506

$2,595 $2,595

-3.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,545 $3,545

$7,340 $7,340

-51.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,935 $2,935

$3,231 $3,231

-9.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,885 $6,885

$5,039 $5,039

36.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.15

6.44

-4.50%

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

Last update for Helena, MT: September 8, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,767 in Helena, MT and $1,931 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Helena, MT pays 37% 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: $102 in Helena, MT vs $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $388 vs $419, with Helena, MT cheaper for home cooking.

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

Helena, MT vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Helena, MT. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 37% higher in Helena, MT, 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: $1,767 in Helena, MT versus $1,931 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,115 per month in Helena, MT versus $2,646 in Austin, TX – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 44% less than in Helena, MT. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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.

Safety-wise, Helena, MT and Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Helena, MT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.