Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, you'd need:

$56,115

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 97.1
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $43,818

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$20,232
Net Income $42,527

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$89,018

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,992 more per year in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, while housing costs 9% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia is 3% below avg, making Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $56,115 in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ($22,621 vs $17,529 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Schools
541
587
Enrollment
345,378
415,464
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
7.4%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
Institutions
31
34
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$17,529
Out-of-State
$28,276
$20,419
Grad Rate
58.5%
49.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 97.1 (national average = 100).

What salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $56,115 in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $20,232 in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia—housing is 9% less in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia.