Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brevard, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Brevard, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,340 in Brevard, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,490 in Brevard, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,639 in Brevard, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than Brevard, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Brevard, NC 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$18.12 $18.12

8.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$83.4 $83.4

-9.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.09 $10.09

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.77 $5.77

-1.73%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.45 $2.45

13.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.44 $2.44

-11.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.69 $6.69

-12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.12 $6.12

26.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.06 $1.06

2.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.67 $2.67

27.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.95 $3.95

-13.16%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.89 $3.89

12.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$10.08 $10.08

18.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.99 $8.99

19.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$12.68 $12.68

12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.44 $4.44

9.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.16 $1.16

33.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.61 $2.61

70.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.42 $5.42

-27.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.25 $2.25

21.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.23 $3.23

-15.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.31 $2.31

-11.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.72 $1.72

30.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$6.45 $6.45

38.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$9.25 $9.25

60.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.87 $2.87

24.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.95 $1.95

-24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.89 $4.89

-12.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.58 $1.58

16.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.88 $29.88

18.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.84 $0.84

-14.29%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

-13.10%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.40%

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

$174 $174

$124 $124

39.73%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$54.5 $54.5

10.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$67.4 $67.4

-1.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.17 $43.17

45.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$10.91 $10.91

39.69%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,156 $1,156

20.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$21.1K $21.1K

5.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$54.0 $54.0

5.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$59.0 $59.0

-23.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$85.8 $85.8

0.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$122 $122

-2.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,415 $1,415

58.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,219 $1,219

17.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,949 $1,949

93.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,998 $1,998

32.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,509 $4,509

13.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Brevard, NC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,415 in Brevard, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 13% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $83.0 in Brevard, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $325, with Brevard, NC 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

Austin, TX vs Brevard, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brevard, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brevard, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 13% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,415 in Brevard, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,156 in Brevard, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Brevard, NC – a meal for two runs $83.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,340 in Brevard, NC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Brevard, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Brevard, NC 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 Brevard, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.