Cost of Living Comparison Between Rocky Mount, NC and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Rocky Mount, NC and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,486 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,678 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $4,117 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,870 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $5,515 in Austin, TX.

Living in Rocky Mount, NC costs roughly 9% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rocky Mount, NC 86% above, Austin, TX 103% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.37 $22.37

$19.99 $19.99

11.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.3 $70.3

$76.2 $76.2

-7.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$10.13 $10.13

19.35%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$5.49 $5.49

-9.29%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$2.72 $2.72

-20.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.14 $2.14

-18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.07 $6.07

-18.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$8.04 $8.04

-10.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.09 $1.09

-24.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.34 $3.34

-20.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.42 $3.42

-8.48%

Eggs

$3.54 $3.54

$4.32 $4.32

-18.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$11.80 $11.80

13.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.36 $8.36

$10.68 $10.68

-21.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.48 $19.48

$14.50 $14.50

34.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.79 $4.79

-14.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.50 $1.50

46.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.51 $4.51

8.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.04 $4.04

-0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.76 $2.76

-15.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.79 $2.79

28.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.04 $2.04

-11.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.71 $7.71

$9.23 $9.23

-16.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 $17.21

$14.81 $14.81

16.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.29 $2.29

-25.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.53 $3.53

14.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.52 $1.52

28.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 $1.98

$4.29 $4.29

-53.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.82 $1.82

25.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.17 $18.17

$35.52 $35.52

-48.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.77 $0.77

7.79%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

17.64%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.80%

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

$83.2 $83.2

$172 $172

-51.65%

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

$76.9 $76.9

$60.3 $60.3

27.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.71 $49.71

$67.2 $67.2

-26.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.95 $42.95

$62.8 $62.8

-31.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.99 $14.99

$14.73 $14.73

1.77%

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

$900 $900

$1,398 $1,398

-35.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.8K $21.8K

13.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$55.1 $55.1

-2.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.25 $39.25

$45.66 $45.66

-14.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 $64.2

$86.8 $86.8

-25.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$115 $115

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$2,245 $2,245

-28.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$1,401 $1,401

-1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 $2,589

$3,782 $3,782

-31.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$2,708 $2,708

-16.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,882 $2,882

$7,304 $7,304

-60.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,035 $2,035

$3,331 $3,331

-38.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,744 $2,744

$4,910 $4,910

-44.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.45

2.17%

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

Last update for Rocky Mount, NC: April 21, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,594 in Rocky Mount, NC and $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 79% 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 in Rocky Mount, NC vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $375 per month, with Rocky Mount, NC 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

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

Rocky Mount, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rocky Mount, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 79% 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: $1,594 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $900 in Rocky Mount, NC versus $1,398 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rocky Mount, NC – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Rocky Mount, NC 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 Rocky Mount, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.