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: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,586 in Fayetteville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,390 in Fayetteville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,193 in Fayetteville, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 4% more expensive than in Fayetteville, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Fayetteville, NC 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$22.12 $22.12

-10.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$61.0 $61.0

37.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$9.84 $9.84

25.00%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.41 $5.41

1.29%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.98 $2.98

24.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.99 $1.99

18.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$4.96 $4.96

56.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$5.95 $5.95

53.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.42 $1.42

-20.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.93 $3.93

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$7.81 $7.81

-56.08%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.13 $4.13

5.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$10.30 $10.30

27.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$13.52 $13.52

6.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$22.97 $22.97

-25.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.20 $6.20

-27.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.03 $3.03

-52.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.63 $5.63

-17.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.50 $4.50

10.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.73 $4.73

-36.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.66 $3.66

-26.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.75 $2.75

-32.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.03 $2.03

7.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.76 $7.76

21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.55 $12.55

20.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.69 $1.69

71.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$4.50 $4.50

-22.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$7.20 $7.20

-60.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.34 $2.34

-32.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$14.72 $14.72

138.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.88 $0.88

2.27%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

-0.09%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

9.02%

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

$222 $222

$172 $172

28.81%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$51.0 $51.0

14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$62.9 $62.9

9.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$36.21 $36.21

82.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$40.30 $40.30

-63.37%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.85 $11.85

16.29%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,207 $1,207

26.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$9,879 $9,879

114.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$39.08 $39.08

39.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$30.98 $30.98

42.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$85.9 $85.9

4.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$93.9 $93.9

15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,195 $1,195

62.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,285 $1,285

-2.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,638 $1,638

129.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,421 $1,421

82.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,690 $1,690

338.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,676 $1,676

91.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$2,986 $2,986

70.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.08

5.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, NC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,195 in Fayetteville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $61.0 in Fayetteville, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $462, 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 Fayetteville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fayetteville, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 70% higher in Austin, TX, 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,195 in Fayetteville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,207 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 Fayetteville, NC – a meal for two runs $61.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,586 in Fayetteville, NC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Fayetteville, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.