Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cape Carteret, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Cape Carteret, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,538 in Cape Carteret, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,734 in Cape Carteret, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,930 in Cape Carteret, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 6% more expensive than in Cape Carteret, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Cape Carteret, NC 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.82 $17.82

11.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$90.8 $90.8

-7.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.85 $11.85

3.80%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.90 $5.90

-7.12%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.68 $2.68

38.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.14 $2.14

10.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.07 $6.07

27.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.10 $7.10

28.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.00 $1.00

13.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.15 $3.15

19.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.45 $5.45

-37.06%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.06 $4.06

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.40 $10.40

26.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.64 $9.64

49.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$18.45 $18.45

-6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.59 $2.59

73.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.56 $1.56

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.92 $4.92

-5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.93 $5.93

-16.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.24 $2.24

33.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$4.60 $4.60

-41.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.74 $1.74

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.25 $2.25

-3.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.87 $8.87

6.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.14 $12.14

24.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.82 $1.82

58.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.15 $2.15

62.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.02 $2.02

-18.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.72 $4.72

-40.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.28 $1.28

23.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$19.67 $19.67

78.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.91 $0.91

-1.10%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

0.48%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

12.60%

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

$222 $222

$206 $206

7.92%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$60.1 $60.1

-3.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$66.6 $66.6

3.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$40.91 $40.91

61.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$12.23 $12.23

12.67%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,589 $1,589

-3.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$15.9K $15.9K

33.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$60.6 $60.6

-10.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$46.78 $46.78

-5.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$118 $118

-24.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$113 $113

-4.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,573 $1,573

23.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,320 $1,320

-4.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,524 $2,524

49.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,174 $2,174

19.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,736 $2,736

170.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,390 $2,390

34.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cape Carteret, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,573 in Cape Carteret, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $91.0 in Cape Carteret, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $373, with Cape Carteret, 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 Cape Carteret, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cape Carteret, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cape Carteret, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,808 in Cape Carteret, NC 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,573 in Cape Carteret, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,589 in Cape Carteret, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cape Carteret, NC – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Cape Carteret, NC 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.

Expats usually find Cape Carteret, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.