Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Burnsville, NC: $2,546 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Burnsville, NC
🇺🇸 United States
$2,546
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Burnsville, NC and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Burnsville, NC and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,546 in Burnsville, NC versus $2,698 in Austin, TX.

  • Burnsville, NC $2,546
  • Austin, TX $2,698

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,784 in Burnsville, NC versus $4,160 in Austin, TX.

  • Burnsville, NC $3,784
  • Austin, TX $4,160

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,023 in Burnsville, NC versus $5,622 in Austin, TX.

  • Burnsville, NC $5,023
  • Austin, TX $5,622

Living in Burnsville, NC costs roughly 6% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Burnsville, NC 88% above, Austin, TX 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21 $18.21
$20.63 $20.63
-11.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.2 $75.2
$84.6 $84.6
-11.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 $10.94
$12.07 $12.07
-9.36%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$5.48 $5.48
-3.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 $1.06
$3.80 $3.80
-72.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.47 $2.47
-61.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$8.05 $8.05
-27.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$8.88 $8.88
-59.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.11 $1.11
-7.21%
White Bread (500g)
$4.00 $4.00
$3.72 $3.72
7.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.37 $3.37
-5.64%
Eggs
$4.45 $4.45
$4.32 $4.32
3.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.45 $16.45
$13.13 $13.13
25.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.98 $15.98
$14.15 $14.15
12.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.24 $18.24
$16.33 $16.33
11.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.55 $4.55
14.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.46 $1.46
-2.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.71 $4.71
-0.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$4.15 $4.15
11.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.58 $2.58
47.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.35 $2.35
31.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.77 $1.77
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.14 $2.14
5.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.97 $8.97
$10.10 $10.10
-11.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.39 $15.39
$15.19 $15.19
1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.82 $2.82
-17.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.44 $3.44
6.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.54 $1.54
25.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.80 $2.80
9.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.60 $1.60
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$34.34 $34.34
-13.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$0.94 $0.94
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$34.0K $34.0K
4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.8K $26.8K
-5.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 $116
$223 $223
-47.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$58.9 $58.9
13.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5 $80.5
$70.6 $70.6
14.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.26 $46.26
$57.7 $57.7
-19.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.53 $16.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.83 $15.83
$14.26 $14.26
11.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,495 $1,495
$1,511 $1,511
-1.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.0K $25.0K
$20.9K $20.9K
19.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$51.3 $51.3
0.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.65 $37.65
$44.17 $44.17
-14.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 $93.8
$87.0 $87.0
7.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$104 $104
37.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,605 $1,605
$1,940 $1,940
-17.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$1,316 $1,316
-0.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,485 $2,485
$3,664 $3,664
-32.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,185 $2,185
$2,565 $2,565
-14.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,851 $2,851
$7,354 $7,354
-61.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,102 $2,102
$3,129 $3,129
-32.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burnsville, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,286 $5,286
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
6.79
-4.57%

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

Last update for Burnsville, NC: October 17, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Burnsville, NC
$1.3K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 0.7% $9.4
Groceries & Markets
Burnsville, NC
$444
Austin, TX
$406 8.5% $38
Eating Out
Burnsville, NC
$287
Austin, TX
$350 22.1% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burnsville, NC
$264
Austin, TX
$352 33.5% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Burnsville, NC
$147
Austin, TX
$129 12.1% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Burnsville, NC
$78
Austin, TX
$86 10.7% $8.3
Getting Around
Burnsville, NC
$20 *
Austin, TX
$58 190% $38

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,605 in Burnsville, NC and $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $75.0 in Burnsville, NC vs $85.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $444 vs $406, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Burnsville, NC
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
04:47 4:47 AM
03:47 3:47 AM
1 h behind Burnsville, NC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,306
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Burnsville, NC Austin, TX 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Burnsville, NC
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Burnsville, NC vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Burnsville, NC or Austin, TX?
Burnsville, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Burnsville, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Burnsville, NC and in Austin, TX?
You'd need roughly $3,819 in Burnsville, NC and $4,046 in Austin, TX to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Burnsville, NC compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,605 in Burnsville, NC versus $1,940 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Burnsville, NC and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $1,495 in Burnsville, NC versus $1,511 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Burnsville, NC and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Burnsville, NC – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Burnsville, NC or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Burnsville, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Burnsville, NC or Austin, TX?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Burnsville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Burnsville, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared

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