Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and High Point, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and High Point, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,571 in High Point, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,783 in High Point, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,994 in High Point, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 3% more expensive than High Point, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, High Point, NC 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$19.75 $19.75

-0.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$74.1 $74.1

1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.87 $9.87

0.51%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.88 $4.88

16.19%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.16 $2.16

28.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.71 $1.71

26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.93 $4.93

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$6.15 $6.15

26.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.92 $0.92

18.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$4.15 $4.15

-17.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.11 $3.11

10.29%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.66 $3.66

19.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$13.49 $13.49

-11.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.46 $8.46

27.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.20 $16.20

-11.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.47 $4.47

8.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.45 $1.45

6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.98 $4.98

-10.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.10 $4.10

-4.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.41 $2.41

13.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.78 $3.78

-27.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.82 $1.82

12.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.24 $2.24

0.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.67 $7.67

16.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.75 $14.75

0.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.69 $1.69

39.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.13 $3.13

14.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.06 $2.06

-28.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$80.3 $80.3

-46.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.05 $2.05

108.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.73 $1.73

6.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$15.07 $15.07

135.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.81 $0.81

-11.11%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.4K $29.4K

-12.53%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.95%

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

$174 $174

$149 $149

16.15%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$63.5 $63.5

-5.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$74.1 $74.1

-10.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.68 $43.68

43.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$15.17 $15.17

0.46%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$913 $913

51.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

-8.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$51.8 $51.8

9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$39.31 $39.31

15.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$74.5 $74.5

16.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,598 $1,598

40.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,358 $1,358

5.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$2,675 $2,675

41.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$2,227 $2,227

18.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$1,935 $1,935

263.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$1,909 $1,909

65.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,425 $4,425

15.43%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for High Point, NC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,598 in High Point, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 15% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $74.0 in High Point, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $374 per month, with High Point, 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 High Point, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

High Point, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making High Point, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Austin, TX pays 15% 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,598 in High Point, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,571 in High Point, NC – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in High Point, NC runs roughly 87% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. High Point, NC 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 High Point, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.