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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shelby, NC is 10.6% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shelby, NC is 33.9% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 36.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.07 $14.07
$19.64 $19.64
-28.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.14 $35.14
$76.2 $76.2
-53.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 $9.43
$9.95 $9.95
-5.23%
Cappuccino
$3.67 $3.67
$5.61 $5.61
-34.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.64 $2.64
-43.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.19 $2.19
-43.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 $2.44
$5.84 $5.84
-58.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$7.92 $7.92
-62.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.13 $1.13
-30.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.3 $3.3
-18.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$3.5 $3.5
4.00%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.4 $4.4
-1.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.27 $9.27
$12 $12
-22.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$10.68 $10.68
19.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.4 $22.4
$14.73 $14.73
52.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.24 $5.24
$4.88 $4.88
7.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.52 $1.52
15.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$4.53 $4.53
13.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.92 $3.92
-19.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$2.72 $2.72
21.32%
Onion (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.76 $2.76
65.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.01 $2.01
0.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.18 $2.18
-14.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.56 $8.56
$8.86 $8.86
-3.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.28 $9.28
$14.96 $14.96
-37.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.34 $2.34
-15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.44 $3.44
-19.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.48 $1.48
32.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$42.82 $42.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 $2.05
$4.3 $4.3
-52.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.82 $1.82
31.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.99 $17.99
$34.63 $34.63
-48.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$0.73 $0.73
2.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24K $24K
$25.5K $25.5K
-5.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K $22.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-15.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$177 $177
23.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.32 $34.32
$58.9 $58.9
-41.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.07 $49.07
$64.8 $64.8
-24.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.49 $43.49
$62.6 $62.6
-30.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.17 $10.17
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.29 $15.29
$14.72 $14.72
3.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$301 $301
$1,378 $1,378
-78.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$22.4K $22.4K
2.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.53 $48.53
$56.3 $56.3
-13.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.53 $34.53
$46.46 $46.46
-25.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 $70.2
$86.7 $86.7
-19.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 $78.4
$119 $119
-34.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,571 $1,571
$2,188 $2,188
-28.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$814 $814
$1,395 $1,395
-41.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,601 $2,601
$3,896 $3,896
-33.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 $1,159
$2,689 $2,689
-56.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 $2,522
$4,414 $4,414
-42.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,750 $2,750
$3,161 $3,161
-13.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shelby, NC
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,486 $2,486
$4,871 $4,871
-48.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
6.45
-1.09%

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

Last update for Shelby, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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