Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mountain Home, ID and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Mountain Home, ID: $2,430 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mountain Home, ID, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Mountain Home, ID
🇺🇸 United States
$2,430
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Mountain Home, ID versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Mountain Home, ID $2,430
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,678 in Mountain Home, ID versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Mountain Home, ID $3,678
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,927 in Mountain Home, ID versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Mountain Home, ID $4,927
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Mountain Home, ID costs roughly 10% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mountain Home, ID 79% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.76 $18.76
$20.63 $20.63
-9.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5 $71.5
$84.6 $84.6
-15.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.64 $12.64
$12.07 $12.07
4.72%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$5.48 $5.48
1.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.80 $3.80
-25.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.47 $2.47
-11.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.97 $5.97
$8.05 $8.05
-25.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 $6.48
$8.88 $8.88
-27.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.11 $1.11
-2.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.72 $3.72
-2.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.37 $3.37
26.41%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.32 $4.32
-2.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.80 $12.80
$13.13 $13.13
-2.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.72 $11.72
$14.15 $14.15
-17.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 $16.77
$16.33 $16.33
2.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.55 $4.55
7.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.46 $1.46
13.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$4.71 $4.71
-11.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$4.15 $4.15
12.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.58 $2.58
10.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.35 $2.35
27.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.77 $1.77
23.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.14 $2.14
19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.22 $10.22
$10.10 $10.10
1.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$15.19 $15.19
-1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.82 $2.82
-29.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.44 $3.44
0.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.54 $1.54
46.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.80 $2.80
-4.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.60 $1.60
8.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.44 $26.44
$34.34 $34.34
-23.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$0.94 $0.94
26.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$34.0K $34.0K
-20.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.8K $26.8K
-4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$223 $223
-12.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$58.9 $58.9
-0.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1 $70.1
$70.6 $70.6
-0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.47 $46.47
$57.7 $57.7
-19.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.81 $13.81
$14.26 $14.26
-3.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,333 $1,333
$1,511 $1,511
-11.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K $20.0K
$20.9K $20.9K
-4.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 $53.5
$51.3 $51.3
4.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.22 $45.22
$44.17 $44.17
2.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 $80.2
$87.0 $87.0
-7.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$104 $104
15.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$1,940 $1,940
-17.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,155 $1,155
$1,316 $1,316
-12.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,354 $2,354
$3,664 $3,664
-35.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,133 $2,133
$2,565 $2,565
-16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,447 $2,447
$7,354 $7,354
-66.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,373 $2,373
$3,129 $3,129
-24.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mountain Home, ID
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,286 $5,286
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.79
-3.24%

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

Last update for Mountain Home, ID: October 18, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mountain Home, ID
$1.2K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 13.9% $161
Groceries & Markets
Mountain Home, ID
$403
Austin, TX
$406 0.6% $2.6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mountain Home, ID
$325
Austin, TX
$352 8.5% $28
Eating Out
Mountain Home, ID
$317
Austin, TX
$350 10.3% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Mountain Home, ID
$135
Austin, TX
$129 4.2% $5.7
Sport & Entertainment
Mountain Home, ID
$74
Austin, TX
$86 16.4% $12
Getting Around
Mountain Home, ID
$20 *
Austin, TX
$58 184% $38

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 $1,607 in Mountain Home, ID and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $72 in Mountain Home, ID vs $85 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $406 per month, with Mountain Home, ID cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Mountain Home, ID
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
18:45 6:45 PM
19:45 7:45 PM
1 h ahead of Mountain Home, ID
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,656
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mountain Home, ID Austin, TX 2,140 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mountain Home, 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
Mountain Home, ID vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mountain Home, ID or Austin, TX?
Mountain Home, ID wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Mountain Home, ID the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mountain Home, ID and in Austin, TX?
You’d need roughly $3,645 in Mountain Home, ID and $4,046 in Austin, TX 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mountain Home, ID compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,607 in Mountain Home, ID versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mountain Home, ID compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you’ll spend $2,430 per month in Mountain Home, ID versus $2,698 in Austin, TX – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do dining costs compare in Mountain Home, ID and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Mountain Home, ID – a meal for two runs $72 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, Mountain Home, 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.

Mountain Home, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared

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