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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Raleigh, NC is 3.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 9.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Raleigh, NC is 2.8% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 0.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$19.64 $19.64
1.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$76.2 $76.2
-2.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$9.95 $9.95
1.61%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.61 $5.61
-4.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.64 $2.64
-10.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.19 $2.19
-6.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 $5.74
$5.84 $5.84
-1.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$7.92 $7.92
-22.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.13 $1.13
-24.78%
White Bread (500g)
$4.01 $4.01
$3.3 $3.3
21.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.5 $3.5
-9.14%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$4.4 $4.4
8.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$12 $12
13.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 $11.46
$10.68 $10.68
7.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.81 $16.81
$14.73 $14.73
14.12%
Apples (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$4.88 $4.88
37.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.52 $1.52
-3.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.77 $5.77
$4.53 $4.53
27.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$3.92 $3.92
60.97%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.72 $2.72
34.93%
Onion (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$2.76 $2.76
52.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.01 $2.01
9.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.18 $2.18
3.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 $7.42
$8.86 $8.86
-16.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$14.96 $14.96
-1.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.34 $2.34
-13.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$3.44 $3.44
-12.50%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.48 $1.48
37.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.36 $45.36
$42.82 $42.82
5.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$4.3 $4.3
-43.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.82 $1.82
-4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.73 $14.73
$34.63 $34.63
-57.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$0.73 $0.73
9.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
16.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$177 $177
4.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$58.9 $58.9
8.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$64.8 $64.8
8.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.69 $40.69
$62.6 $62.6
-34.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.1 $34.1
$10.17 $10.17
235.30%
Cinema Ticket
$15.2 $15.2
$14.72 $14.72
3.26%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,492 $1,492
$1,378 $1,378
8.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$22.4K $22.4K
9.46%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$56.3 $56.3
-8.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.69 $48.69
$46.46 $46.46
4.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$86.7 $86.7
13.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$119 $119
19.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 $1,828
$2,188 $2,188
-16.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 $1,539
$1,395 $1,395
10.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,992 $2,992
$3,896 $3,896
-23.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,400 $2,400
$2,689 $2,689
-10.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 $3,093
$4,414 $4,414
-29.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,505 $2,505
$3,161 $3,161
-20.75%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Raleigh, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,392 $4,392
$4,871 $4,871
-9.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.45
1.24%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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