Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chapel Hill, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Chapel Hill, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,962 in Chapel Hill, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $5,284 in Chapel Hill, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Chapel Hill, NC 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$15.13 $15.13

29.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$80.1 $80.1

-6.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.90 $9.90

0.20%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.25 $4.25

33.41%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.43 $2.43

13.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.89 $1.89

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.98 $5.98

-2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.84 $6.84

13.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.88 $0.88

23.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.11 $4.11

-17.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.26 $4.26

-19.48%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.47 $4.47

-1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$16.88 $16.88

-29.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$14.38 $14.38

-25.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$11.95 $11.95

19.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.79 $5.79

-16.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.50 $1.50

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$5.78 $5.78

-22.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.09 $4.09

-4.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.72 $2.72

0.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.81 $2.81

-2.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.73 $1.73

17.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.72 $1.72

30.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$6.90 $6.90

29.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.80 $12.80

16.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.37 $2.37

50.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.04 $2.04

-27.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.95 $2.95

45.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.83 $1.83

0.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$29.70 $29.70

19.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.86 $0.86

-16.28%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$28.3K $28.3K

-9.20%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

4.71%

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

$174 $174

$140 $140

24.25%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$55.6 $55.6

8.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$72.9 $72.9

-9.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.15 $42.15

48.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$9.88 $9.88

54.25%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,318 $1,318

5.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.4K $24.4K

-9.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$49.40 $49.40

14.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$30.26 $30.26

49.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$87.0 $87.0

-0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$81.9 $81.9

45.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,324 $1,324

69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,457 $1,457

-1.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$3,427 $3,427

10.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,709 $2,709

-2.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,683 $2,683

162.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,740 $2,740

15.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$5,464 $5,464

-6.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Chapel Hill, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $405 per month, with Austin, TX cheaper across the board.

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 Chapel Hill, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chapel Hill, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chapel Hill, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Chapel Hill, NC earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,318 in Chapel Hill, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chapel Hill, NC – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chapel Hill, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.