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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,225 in Greenville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Austin, TX versus $2,986 in Greenville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,490 in Austin, TX versus $3,746 in Greenville, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than Greenville, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Greenville, NC 66% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.36 $19.36

$10.12 $10.12

91.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.7 $73.7

$75.8 $75.8

-2.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.95 $9.95

2.41%

Cappuccino

$5.71 $5.71

$5.11 $5.11

11.74%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.00 $2.00

32.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.03 $1.03

112.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.52 $3.52

67.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$4.13 $4.13

95.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.87 $1.87

80.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.40 $5.40

-38.15%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.74 $3.74

18.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 $11.87

$4.54 $4.54

161.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$5.23 $5.23

106.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$15.65 $15.65

-8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.41 $2.41

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.09 $1.09

41.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.80 $2.80

62.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.33 $4.33

-8.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.31 $2.31

23.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.23 $3.23

-13.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.68 $1.68

16.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.46 $1.46

52.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.07 $9.07

$7.62 $7.62

19.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.13 $12.13

23.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.69 $1.69

35.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.12 $2.12

60.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.05 $2.05

-27.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.63 $42.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.79 $4.79

-9.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.51 $1.51

17.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.51 $34.51

$19.69 $19.69

75.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.86 $0.86

-12.79%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.4K $27.4K

-7.73%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$22.6K $22.6K

17.71%

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

$176 $176

$165 $165

6.67%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$49.22 $49.22

21.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$68.4 $68.4

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.4 $62.4

$42.97 $42.97

45.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.96 $9.96

Cinema Ticket

$15.04 $15.04

$12.04 $12.04

24.92%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,204 $1,204

15.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$16.3K $16.3K

37.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.38 $44.38

27.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 $46.71

$45.64 $45.64

2.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$71.8 $71.8

20.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$104 $104

14.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,174 $2,174

$1,420 $1,420

53.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 $1,439

$1,228 $1,228

17.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,754 $3,754

$2,132 $2,132

76.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$1,520 $1,520

77.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,033 $7,033

$1,744 $1,744

303.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,113 $3,113

$1,695 $1,695

83.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,081 $5,081

$3,434 $3,434

47.97%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Greenville, NC: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,174 in Austin, TX and $1,420 in Greenville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 48% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Greenville, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $277, with Greenville, NC 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 Greenville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Greenville, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Greenville, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 48% 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: $2,174 in Austin, TX versus $1,420 in Greenville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,204 in Greenville, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Greenville, NC – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,225 in Greenville, NC versus $2,719 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Greenville, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Greenville, 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 Greenville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.