Cost of Living: Austin vs Charlotte (2026)

Austin vs Charlotte cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. Charlotte is about 1% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $99,268 in Charlotte.

Charlotte is about 1% less expensive than Austin overall — $100,000 in Austin is worth about $99,268 in Charlotte.

Austin vs Charlotte: the numbers

MetricAustinCharlotteDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)9897-1%
Median rent$1,655$1,504-9%
Median home value$512,700$351,500-31%
Median household income$91,461$78,438-14%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $99,268 in Charlotte. Going the other way, $100,000 in Charlotte is like $100,738 in Austin.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Charlotte.

Compare any salary: Austin vs Charlotte

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

Austin is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 98 vs 97 — a 1% difference. Your money goes further in Charlotte.

About $99,268 — that's what you'd need in Charlotte to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Austin.