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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,281 in Hickory, NC versus $2,657 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Hickory, NC versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,105 in Hickory, NC versus $5,546 in Austin, TX.

Living in Hickory, NC costs roughly 14% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hickory, NC 70% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.94 $19.94

$19.85 $19.85

0.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 $70.1

$74.5 $74.5

-5.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$10.03 $10.03

8.18%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.52 $5.52

3.26%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.78 $2.78

-3.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.10 $2.10

9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.04 $6.04

1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.81 $7.81

-11.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.13 $1.13

-14.16%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.45 $3.45

9.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.42 $3.42

35.38%

Eggs

$2.46 $2.46

$4.37 $4.37

-43.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 $12.86

$12.24 $12.24

5.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 $9.06

$10.79 $10.79

-16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.30 $19.30

$14.36 $14.36

34.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.99 $4.99

15.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.51 $1.51

-15.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.17 $7.17

$4.38 $4.38

63.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.96 $3.96

48.23%

Potato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$2.74 $2.74

75.18%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.77 $2.77

36.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.98 $1.98

-2.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.28 $2.28

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.74 $8.74

-21.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.81 $14.81

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.26 $2.26

-25.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.58 $3.58

-14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.54 $1.54

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$43.09 $43.09

2.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.45 $4.45

-23.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.81 $1.81

-16.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.90 $17.90

$35.30 $35.30

-49.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.74 $0.74

8.11%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

41.88%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.4K $26.4K

-7.37%

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

$154 $154

$170 $170

-9.20%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$60.3 $60.3

-10.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.0 $67.0

-8.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.85 $34.85

$61.6 $61.6

-43.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$15.14 $15.14

-13.21%

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

$1,677 $1,677

$1,381 $1,381

21.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$21.8K $21.8K

-53.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.53 $47.53

$56.9 $56.9

-16.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.97 $44.97

$45.94 $45.94

-2.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$86.0 $86.0

11.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$119 $119

16.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 $1,212

$2,183 $2,183

-44.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 $969

$1,417 $1,417

-31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$3,801 $3,801

-49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 $1,323

$2,711 $2,711

-51.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,206 $2,206

$7,204 $7,204

-69.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,137 $2,137

$3,239 $3,239

-34.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,395 $4,395

$4,914 $4,914

-10.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.45

-24.81%

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

Last update for Hickory, NC: April 27, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,212 in Hickory, NC and $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 12% 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: $70.0 in Hickory, NC vs $74.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $413 vs $379, 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

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

Hickory, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hickory, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,212 in Hickory, NC versus $2,183 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,281 per month in Hickory, NC versus $2,657 in Austin, TX – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Hickory, NC runs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,281 in Hickory, NC versus $2,657 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hickory, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Hickory, 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 Hickory, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.