Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Idaho Falls, ID: $2,315 a month against $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Idaho Falls, ID, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Idaho Falls, ID
🇺🇸 United States
$2,315
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Idaho Falls, ID 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 Idaho Falls, ID and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,315 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $2,607 in Austin, TX.

  • Idaho Falls, ID $2,315
  • Austin, TX $2,607

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,380 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $4,031 in Austin, TX.

  • Idaho Falls, ID $3,380
  • Austin, TX $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,446 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $5,454 in Austin, TX.

  • Idaho Falls, ID $4,446
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Living in Idaho Falls, ID costs roughly 11% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Idaho Falls, ID 70% above, Austin, TX 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72 $17.72
$20.35 $20.35
-12.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9 $51.9
$84.7 $84.7
-38.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 $10.09
$12.12 $12.12
-16.75%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$5.65 $5.65
-11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$3.68 $3.68
-38.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 $1.55
$2.36 $2.36
-34.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.11 $4.11
$7.87 $7.87
-47.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$8.82 $8.82
-19.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.14 $1.14
-36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.69 $3.69
6.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.31 $3.31
-10.27%
Eggs
$4.12 $4.12
$4.15 $4.15
-0.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.68 $11.68
$12.98 $12.98
-10.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 $6.41
$13.86 $13.86
-53.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.79 $9.79
$16.34 $16.34
-40.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 $2.18
$4.69 $4.69
-53.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.45 $1.45
-13.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$5.11 $5.11
-59.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$4.52 $4.52
-52.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$3.08 $3.08
-45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.38 $2.38
3.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.80 $1.80
3.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.22 $2.22
-15.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.36 $10.36
$9.97 $9.97
3.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.34 $7.34
$15.05 $15.05
-51.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.91 $2.91
-39.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$3.33 $3.33
-54.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.22 $1.22
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.53 $40.53
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.78 $2.78
-8.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.65 $1.65
42.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.09 $25.09
$35.39 $35.39
-29.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$0.95 $0.95
16.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K $34.3K
$34.2K $34.2K
0.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.8K $26.8K
-2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$223 $223
-22.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$58.5 $58.5
-9.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$71.2 $71.2
-10.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.67 $38.67
$53.0 $53.0
-27.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.75 $16.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.42 $11.42
$14.06 $14.06
-18.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$957 $957
$1,459 $1,459
-34.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K $20.6K
$21.3K $21.3K
-3.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.75 $41.75
$52.5 $52.5
-20.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.87 $44.87
$42.75 $42.75
4.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 $70.2
$86.4 $86.4
-18.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4 $96.4
$104 $104
-7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 $1,323
$2,112 $2,112
-37.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,266 $1,266
$1,230 $1,230
2.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,073 $2,073
$3,863 $3,863
-46.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,207 $2,207
$2,407 $2,407
-8.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,923 $1,923
$7,426 $7,426
-74.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,946 $1,946
$3,060 $3,060
-36.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Idaho Falls, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,499 $3,499
$5,179 $5,179
-32.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.12
6.82
-10.26%

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

Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: October 24, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Idaho Falls, ID
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.2K 2.8% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Idaho Falls, ID
$289
Austin, TX
$353 21.9% $63
Eating Out
Idaho Falls, ID
$282
Austin, TX
$348 23.3% $66
Groceries & Markets
Idaho Falls, ID
$275
Austin, TX
$410 48.8% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Idaho Falls, ID
$114
Austin, TX
$128 12.7% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Idaho Falls, ID
$62
Austin, TX
$81 32% $20
Getting Around
Idaho Falls, ID
$26 *
Austin, TX
$56 114% $30

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 $1,323 in Idaho Falls, ID and $2,112 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 48% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $52 in Idaho Falls, ID vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $410 per month, with Idaho Falls, ID cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Idaho Falls, ID
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
10:08 10:08 AM
11:08 11:08 AM
1 h ahead of Idaho Falls, ID
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
61,459
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
  • Idaho Falls, ID Austin, TX 1,940 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Idaho Falls, ID
  • 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
Idaho Falls, ID vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Idaho Falls, ID or Austin, TX?
Idaho Falls, ID wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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.
Are salaries higher in Idaho Falls, ID or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Idaho Falls, ID. 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 Idaho Falls, ID compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,323 in Idaho Falls, ID 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 Idaho Falls, ID and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $957 in Idaho Falls, ID 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 Idaho Falls, ID and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Idaho Falls, ID – a meal for two runs $52 versus $85 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is better for families?
For families, Idaho Falls, ID is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Austin, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Should I move to Idaho Falls, ID or to Austin, TX?
It comes down to priorities – Idaho Falls, ID wins on affordability, Austin, TX on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Idaho Falls, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared

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