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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,486 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,678 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,870 in Rocky Mount, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than Rocky Mount, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Rocky Mount, NC 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$22.37 $22.37

-10.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$70.3 $70.3

8.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.09 $12.09

-16.21%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.98 $4.98

10.24%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.17 $2.17

25.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.74 $1.74

22.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.96 $4.96

22.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.19 $7.19

11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.67 $2.67

25.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.13 $3.13

9.27%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.54 $3.54

22.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$13.35 $13.35

-11.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.36 $8.36

27.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$19.48 $19.48

-25.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.08 $4.08

17.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$2.19 $2.19

-31.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.91 $4.91

-8.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.01 $4.01

0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.33 $2.33

18.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.58 $3.58

-22.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.81 $1.81

12.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.71 $7.71

19.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$17.21 $17.21

-13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.70 $1.70

34.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.04 $4.04

-12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.98 $1.98

116.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.28 $2.28

-20.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$18.17 $18.17

95.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.83 $0.83

-7.23%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.1K $30.1K

-15.00%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.88%

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

$172 $172

$83.2 $83.2

106.84%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$76.9 $76.9

-21.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$49.71 $49.71

35.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.95 $42.95

46.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$14.99 $14.99

-1.73%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$900 $900

55.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.7K $24.7K

-11.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$53.7 $53.7

2.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$39.25 $39.25

16.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$64.2 $64.2

35.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$117 $117

-1.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,594 $1,594

40.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,374 $1,374

1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,589 $2,589

46.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,257 $2,257

19.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$2,882 $2,882

153.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$2,035 $2,035

63.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$2,744 $2,744

78.93%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Rocky Mount, NC: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,594 in Rocky Mount, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 79% 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 in Austin, TX vs $70 in Rocky Mount, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $373 per month, with Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rocky Mount, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 9% 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.

Austin, TX pays 79% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,594 in Rocky Mount, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $900 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 $70.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.