Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Carthage

For one person, living is cheaper in Carthage: $693 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Carthage
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$693
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Carthage

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Carthage actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $693 in Carthage.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Carthage $693

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,100 in Carthage.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Carthage $1,100

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,508 in Carthage.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Carthage $1,508

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 284% more expensive than in Carthage, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Carthage is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$4.09 TND 12.26
407.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$22.71 TND 68.0
272.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$5.89 TND 17.65
109.17%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$1.15 TND 3.44
389.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.73 TND 2.20
409.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.29 TND 0.88
762.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$1.70 TND 5.08
373.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$2.05 TND 6.14
339.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.49 TND 1.46
128.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$0.26 TND 0.78
1342.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.78 TND 5.33
83.15%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.84 TND 5.50
126.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$10.20 TND 30.56
26.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$5.74 TND 17.21
146.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$14.42 TND 43.20
12.48%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.31 TND 3.92
230.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.65 TND 10.93
-60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.17 TND 3.49
285.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$0.83 TND 2.48
422.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$0.90 TND 2.70
186.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.69 TND 2.07
240.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.53 TND 1.60
235.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.34 TND 1.03
552.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$3.59 TND 10.75
175.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$6.62 TND 19.82
127.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.23 TND 3.68
137.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.24 TND 3.72
179.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.43 TND 1.30
246.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$13.96 TND 41.82
198.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.31 TND 0.92
780.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.34 TND 1.03
388.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$1.78 TND 5.34
1883.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.88 TND 2.63
7.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$39.9K TND 119.4K
-9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$35.4K TND 106.1K
-23.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$45.22 TND 135
406.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$9.23 TND 27.63
543.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$20.98 TND 62.9
233.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$32.18 TND 96.4
77.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$13.26 TND 39.70
23.15%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$5.17 TND 15.49
176.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$104 TND 311
1347.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$3,218 TND 9,637
566.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$43.72 TND 131
20.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$59.3 TND 178
-26.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$114 TND 340
-25.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$67.7 TND 203
52.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$211 TND 633
803.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$154 TND 463
725.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$209 TND 625
1655.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$272 TND 815
832.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$972 TND 2,911
683.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$622 TND 1,862
407.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
$269 TND 807
1800.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
10.28
-33.95%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Carthage: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Carthage
$154 87.9% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Carthage
$194 52.1% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Carthage
$75 78.9% $283
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Carthage
$81 77.1% $273
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Carthage
$128 0.1% $0.1
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Carthage
$43 50.4% $43
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Carthage
$18 69.8% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $211 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 1800% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $23.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $194 per month, with Carthage cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇹🇳 Carthage
🕒 Local time
02:15 2:15 AM
08:15 8:15 AM
6 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
21,276
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Carthage 9,450 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Carthage

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
Austin, TX vs Carthage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Carthage?
Carthage wins on cost – living expenses run 284% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Carthage the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Carthage?
Average pay runs 1800% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $211 in Carthage. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Carthage?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $693 in Carthage – a 284% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Carthage?
A monthly transit pass in Carthage runs roughly 199% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Carthage?
At $693 in Carthage versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Carthage?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 284% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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