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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 7% cheaper than Cary, NC without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 2.4% more expensive than Cary, NC without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$17.75 $17.75

10.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$100 $100

-23.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.66 $10.66

-6.66%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.97 $4.97

12.88%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.01 $2.01

31.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.89 $1.89

15.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.06 $5.06

15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$6.65 $6.65

19.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.12 $1.12

0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$5.68 $5.68

-41.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$6.35 $6.35

-44.88%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$4.64 $4.64

-5.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$20.29 $20.29

-40.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$12.33 $12.33

-13.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$17.32 $17.32

-14.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.56 $5.56

-12.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.76 $1.76

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.24 $4.24

6.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$6.72 $6.72

-41.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.54 $2.54

7.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.44 $3.44

-19.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.8 $2.8

-28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.93 $1.93

12.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$9.82 $9.82

-9.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$11.95 $11.95

25.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.39 $2.39

-2.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.88 $4.88

-29.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.83 $1.83

-19.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$60.3 $60.3

-29.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.41 $3.41

26.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.59 $1.59

14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$28.98 $28.98

19.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.86 $0.86

-15.12%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$29.5K $29.5K

-13.81%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$28.3K $28.3K

-6.94%

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

$177 $177

$172 $172

2.35%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$49.95 $49.95

17.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$62.7 $62.7

3.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$76.9 $76.9

-18.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$13.64 $13.64

7.92%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,472 $1,472

-6.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

-4.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$47.59 $47.59

18.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$31.91 $31.91

45.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$127 $127

-31.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$136 $136

-12.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$1,761 $1,761

24.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$1,615 $1,615

-13.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$2,600 $2,600

49.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

0.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$2,871 $2,871

53.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,659 $2,659

18.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$5,908 $5,908

-17.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.31

2.22%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

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