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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,881 in Fayetteville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,432 in Fayetteville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,982 in Fayetteville, NC.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 6% less than in Fayetteville, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Fayetteville, NC 115% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$15.15 $15.15

31.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$60.6 $60.6

25.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$10.97 $10.97

-7.66%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.97 $4.97

10.46%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.17 $2.17

25.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.69 $1.69

26.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.02 $4.02

51.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.43 $6.43

25.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.25 $3.25

2.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.03 $3.03

12.87%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.50 $3.50

23.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$7.91 $7.91

49.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.36 $8.36

27.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.30 $12.30

17.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.21 $4.21

13.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.19 $2.19

-31.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.87 $4.87

-7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.63 $4.63

-12.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.45 $2.45

12.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.87 $2.87

-2.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.81 $1.81

12.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.82 $1.82

18.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.68 $7.68

20.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.42 $12.42

19.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.69 $1.69

35.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.47 $1.47

140.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.04 $2.04

-25.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.99 $1.99

115.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.89 $1.89

-3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$50.6 $50.6

-29.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.78 $0.78

-1.28%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.5K $29.5K

-13.13%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.11%

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

$172 $172

$145 $145

18.40%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$74.3 $74.3

-18.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$72.7 $72.7

-7.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$23.13 $23.13

171.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$40.38 $40.38

-75.61%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$12.03 $12.03

22.44%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$901 $901

55.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

-13.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$54.2 $54.2

1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$40.01 $40.01

14.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$63.7 $63.7

36.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$87.8 $87.8

31.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,487 $1,487

50.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,820 $1,820

-23.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$1,778 $1,778

112.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,640 $1,640

65.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,671 $1,671

337.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,717 $1,717

93.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$2,982 $2,982

64.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, NC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,487 in Fayetteville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $61 in Fayetteville, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $326 per month, with Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Fayetteville, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 65% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,487 in Fayetteville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $901 in Fayetteville, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $61.0 in Fayetteville, NC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Fayetteville, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.