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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,400 in Greensboro, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,601 in Greensboro, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,802 in Greensboro, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 13% more expensive than in Greensboro, NC, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Greensboro, NC 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$22.67 $22.67

-13.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$69.6 $69.6

9.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$11.96 $11.96

-17.56%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.04 $5.04

8.73%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.09 $2.09

26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.67 $1.67

25.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.99 $4.99

22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.19 $7.19

13.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.96 $0.96

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$4.13 $4.13

-17.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.12 $3.12

8.33%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.66 $3.66

19.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.74 $13.74

-11.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.65 $8.65

25.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$19.46 $19.46

-24.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.21 $4.21

17.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.23 $2.23

-32.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.82 $4.82

-8.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.04 $4.04

1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.37 $2.37

18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.60 $3.60

-20.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.87 $1.87

4.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.21 $2.21

-1.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.32 $7.32

22.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.76 $13.76

9.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.67 $1.67

39.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.06 $4.06

-15.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.49 $1.49

3.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$57.0 $57.0

-22.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.96 $1.96

125.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.53 $1.53

19.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$17.92 $17.92

93.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

-13.54%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

0.80%

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

$175 $175

$148 $148

17.86%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$75.4 $75.4

-20.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$73.5 $73.5

-10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$45.41 $45.41

34.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$10.02 $10.02

-1.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$14.81 $14.81

-0.34%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$914 $914

50.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

-12.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$54.1 $54.1

4.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$39.02 $39.02

16.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$62.5 $62.5

36.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$117 $117

1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,476 $1,476

49.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,098 $1,098

27.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,189 $2,189

74.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,842 $1,842

45.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,944 $1,944

266.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,901 $1,901

61.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,536 $3,536

44.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Greensboro, NC: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,476 in Greensboro, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 45% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Greensboro, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 vs $387, 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 Greensboro, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Greensboro, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Greensboro, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 45% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,476 in Greensboro, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,400 in Greensboro, NC – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Greensboro, NC runs roughly 29% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,400 in Greensboro, NC versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Greensboro, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Greensboro, 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 Greensboro, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.