Median rent is 7% lower in Chapel Hill ($1,613/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Austin, where the median home runs $555,300 versus $613,700. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $85,989 a year). Taken together, Chapel Hill is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.9 against 98.3 — about 6% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Chapel Hill is 6% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.9 in Chapel Hill vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Chapel Hill, NC
How much would you need to earn in Chapel Hill, NC to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Chapel Hill, NC
$70,155
You could earn $4,845 less (6% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Chapel Hill
North Carolina
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Chapel Hill at $1,613/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (7% gap). Median home values are within 10% of each other: $555,300 in Austin and $613,700 in Chapel Hill.
Metric
Austin
Chapel Hill
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chapel Hill
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Austin (avg AQI 65.0) but not yet for Chapel Hill.
Pick Chapel Hill if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 91.9 vs 98.3).
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Chapel Hill is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.9 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 6% lower in Chapel Hill.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,613/mo in Chapel Hill, NC. Chapel Hill, NC has the lower rent by about 7%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $85,989 in Chapel Hill, NC. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $93,541 in Chapel Hill, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
