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

😐 Solo nomad: Cary, NC is 7.6% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cary, NC is 2.4% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$19.64 $19.64
-9.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.2 $76.2
31.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$9.95 $9.95
7.14%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.61 $5.61
-11.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.64 $2.64
-23.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.19 $2.19
-13.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$5.84 $5.84
-13.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$7.92 $7.92
-16.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.13 $1.13
-0.88%
White Bread (500g)
$5.68 $5.68
$3.3 $3.3
72.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$3.5 $3.5
81.43%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$4.4 $4.4
5.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.29 $20.29
$12 $12
69.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$10.68 $10.68
15.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$14.73 $14.73
17.58%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$4.88 $4.88
13.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.52 $1.52
15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$4.53 $4.53
-6.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$3.92 $3.92
71.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.72 $2.72
-6.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.76 $2.76
24.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.01 $2.01
39.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.18 $2.18
-11.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$8.86 $8.86
10.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$14.96 $14.96
-20.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.34 $2.34
2.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.44 $3.44
41.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.48 $1.48
23.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$42.82 $42.82
40.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.3 $4.3
-20.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.82 $1.82
-12.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.98 $28.98
$34.63 $34.63
-16.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$0.73 $0.73
17.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$25.5K $25.5K
16.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
7.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$177 $177
-2.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 $49.95
$58.9 $58.9
-15.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$64.8 $64.8
-3.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 $76.9
$62.6 $62.6
22.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$14.72 $14.72
-7.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$1,378 $1,378
6.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$22.4K $22.4K
4.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.59 $47.59
$56.3 $56.3
-15.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91 $31.91
$46.46 $46.46
-31.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$86.7 $86.7
46.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$119 $119
14.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$2,188 $2,188
-19.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$1,395 $1,395
15.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$3,896 $3,896
-33.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,689 $2,689
-0.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$4,414 $4,414
-34.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,659 $2,659
$3,161 $3,161
-15.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cary, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,908 $5,908
$4,871 $4,871
21.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
6.45
-2.17%

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

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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