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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,506 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,569 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,633 in Elizabeth City, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 8% more expensive than in Elizabeth City, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Elizabeth City, NC 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$11.93 $11.93

66.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$35.69 $35.69

135.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.19 $11.19

9.92%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.93 $5.93

-7.59%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.46 $2.46

51.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.95 $1.95

21.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.85 $5.85

32.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.93 $6.93

31.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.88 $0.88

28.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.82 $3.82

-1.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.16 $3.16

8.54%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.59 $4.59

-5.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.89 $10.89

20.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.23 $10.23

40.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$17.86 $17.86

-3.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.29 $4.29

4.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.29 $1.29

11.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.34 $4.34

7.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.51 $4.51

10.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.18 $2.18

37.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.26 $2.26

19.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.06 $2.06

-10.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.16 $2.16

0.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$9.48 $9.48

-0.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.02 $15.02

0.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.16 $2.16

33.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.64 $2.64

32.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.25 $2.25

-27.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.05 $3.05

-7.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.85 $1.85

-14.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$17.74 $17.74

98.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.93 $0.93

-3.23%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.1K $35.1K

2.25%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

9.31%

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

$222 $222

$198 $198

12.33%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$57.2 $57.2

1.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$59.4 $59.4

16.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$44.31 $44.31

49.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.85 $14.85

-7.21%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,485 $1,485

2.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$24.1K $24.1K

-12.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$54.2 $54.2

0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$40.09 $40.09

9.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$87.3 $87.3

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$145 $145

-25.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,565 $1,565

24.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,288 $1,288

-2.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,541 $2,541

48.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$2,136 $2,136

21.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,458 $2,458

201.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,157 $2,157

48.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.2

3.87%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth City, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,565 in Elizabeth City, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $36.00 in Elizabeth City, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $376 per month, with Elizabeth City, NC 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 Elizabeth City, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Elizabeth City, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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 $4,042 in Austin, TX and $3,759 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,565 in Elizabeth City, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,485 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 $36.00 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,506 in Elizabeth City, NC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Elizabeth City, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.