Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Elizabeth City, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Elizabeth City, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,487 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,532 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,576 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than Elizabeth City, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Elizabeth City, NC 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$12.09 $12.09

62.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$35.30 $35.30

112.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.80 $9.80

1.22%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.28 $5.28

7.39%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.38 $2.38

16.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.98 $1.98

9.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.57 $5.57

4.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.10 $6.10

27.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.07 $4.07

-16.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.14 $3.14

9.24%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.60 $4.60

-4.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$11.11 $11.11

7.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$11.46 $11.46

-6.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.38 $16.38

-12.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.36 $4.36

11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.39 $1.39

11.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.38 $4.38

1.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.48 $4.48

-12.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.26 $2.26

21.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.18 $2.18

3.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.40 $7.40

20.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.10 $15.10

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.11 $2.11

11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.13 $3.13

14.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.99 $1.99

-26.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.52 $2.52

69.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.69 $1.69

8.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$14.86 $14.86

139.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.82 $0.82

-12.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.0K $30.0K

-14.32%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K $26.5K

-1.27%

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

$174 $174

$186 $186

-6.52%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$64.6 $64.6

-6.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$60.0 $60.0

10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.52 $42.52

47.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.21 $15.21

0.20%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,485 $1,485

-6.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

-9.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$50.8 $50.8

11.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$40.39 $40.39

12.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$90.0 $90.0

-3.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$140 $140

-15.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,633 $1,633

37.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,367 $1,367

4.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,655 $2,655

42.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,243 $2,243

17.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,734 $2,734

157.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,076 $2,076

52.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.53

-1.23%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth City, NC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,633 in Elizabeth City, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $35.00 in Elizabeth City, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $383, with Austin, TX 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 Elizabeth City, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elizabeth City, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Elizabeth City, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,989 in Austin, TX and $3,731 in Elizabeth City, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,633 in Elizabeth City, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,485 in Elizabeth City, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Elizabeth City, NC – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $75.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.