Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rocky Mount, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rocky Mount, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,163 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,379 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,596 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 25% more expensive than in Rocky Mount, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Rocky Mount, NC 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$15.29 $15.29

29.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$79.3 $79.3

5.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.12 $11.12

10.61%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.51 $5.51

-0.54%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.54 $2.54

46.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.47 $2.47

-4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.07 $5.07

53.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.92 $6.92

32.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.95 $0.95

18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.97 $3.97

-5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.88 $5.88

-41.67%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$5.22 $5.22

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.50 $11.50

14.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$14.54 $14.54

-1.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$25.37 $25.37

-32.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$6.68 $6.68

-32.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.73 $1.73

-16.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$7.15 $7.15

-34.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.94 $5.94

-16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.24 $4.24

-29.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$6.14 $6.14

-56.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.44 $2.44

-24.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$3.06 $3.06

-28.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.03 $8.03

17.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.27 $14.27

5.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.07 $2.07

39.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$5.97 $5.97

-41.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.08 $2.08

-21.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$7.14 $7.14

-60.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.84 $1.84

-14.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$26.37 $26.37

33.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.97 $0.97

-7.22%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$35.7K $35.7K

0.45%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.1K $25.1K

10.31%

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

$222 $222

$228 $228

-2.61%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$55.2 $55.2

5.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$73.3 $73.3

-5.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$39.64 $39.64

66.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$14.92 $14.92

-7.64%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,306 $1,306

16.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$22.2K $22.2K

-4.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$70.1 $70.1

-22.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$42.77 $42.77

2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$101 $101

-10.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$71.2 $71.2

52.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$974 $974

99.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$855 $855

47.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,401 $1,401

168.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,613 $1,613

60.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,689 $2,689

175.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,586 $2,586

23.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$2,790 $2,790

82.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.03

6.80%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rocky Mount, NC: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $974 in Rocky Mount, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 82% 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 $79.0 in Rocky Mount, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $501, 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 Rocky Mount, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rocky Mount, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rocky Mount, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 82% 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 $974 in Rocky Mount, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,306 in Rocky Mount, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rocky Mount, NC – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,163 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Rocky Mount, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.