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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,940 in Cary, NC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,386 in Cary, NC versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,833 in Cary, NC versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Cary, NC is roughly 11% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cary, NC 119% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 $17.88

$19.63 $19.63

-8.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$97.0 $97.0

$75.1 $75.1

29.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 $10.43

$9.92 $9.92

5.14%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$5.67 $5.67

-12.52%

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

$2.00 $2.00

$2.77 $2.77

-27.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.17 $2.17

-13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.84 $5.84

-12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 $6.69

$7.77 $7.77

-13.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.09 $1.09

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$5.47 $5.47

$3.41 $3.41

60.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$3.43 $3.43

83.09%

Eggs

$4.75 $4.75

$4.39 $4.39

8.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.23 $20.23

$11.95 $11.95

69.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$10.76 $10.76

16.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.92 $17.92

$14.29 $14.29

25.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.84 $4.84

14.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.55 $1.55

14.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$4.46 $4.46

-6.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$3.91 $3.91

70.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.74 $2.74

-8.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.74 $2.74

25.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.04 $2.04

44.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.25 $2.25

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.36 $9.36

$8.93 $8.93

4.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$14.85 $14.85

-33.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.35 $2.35

2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.57 $3.57

36.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.47 $1.47

23.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.5 $59.5

$42.98 $42.98

38.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.28 $4.28

-17.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.84 $1.84

-13.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.81 $28.81

$35.54 $35.54

-18.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.72 $0.72

11.11%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$25.7K $25.7K

13.88%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

11.48%

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

$169 $169

$174 $174

-2.64%

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

$50.3 $50.3

$60.2 $60.2

-16.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$66.3 $66.3

-5.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.3 $75.3

$62.8 $62.8

19.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 $13.58

$15.24 $15.24

-10.89%

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

$1,491 $1,491

$1,387 $1,387

7.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$22.2K $22.2K

5.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.21 $48.21

$56.7 $56.7

-15.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.94 $31.94

$45.34 $45.34

-29.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$86.5 $86.5

48.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 $136

$119 $119

14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$2,247 $2,247

-21.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,430 $1,430

10.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,668 $2,668

$3,778 $3,778

-29.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,748 $2,748

$2,641 $2,641

4.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,862 $2,862

$7,044 $7,044

-59.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,652 $2,652

$3,162 $3,162

-16.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,996 $5,996

$5,108 $5,108

17.38%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,765 in Cary, NC and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cary, NC pays 17% 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: $97.0 in Cary, NC vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $467 vs $377 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Cary, NC vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Cary, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Cary, NC pays 17% 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: $1,765 in Cary, NC versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,940 per month in Cary, NC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 38% less than in Cary, NC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Cary, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.