Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Charleston, SC

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 2.8% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 1.3% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 1.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.64 $19.64
$17.95 $17.95
9.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.2 $76.2
$79.7 $79.7
-4.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$9.9 $9.9
0.51%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$5.04 $5.04
11.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.42 $2.42
9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.95 $1.95
12.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$5.9 $5.9
-1.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$7.94 $7.94
-0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1 $1
13.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.75 $3.75
-12.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$3.22 $3.22
8.70%
Eggs
$4.4 $4.4
$4.45 $4.45
-1.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12 $12
$13.9 $13.9
-13.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 $10.68
$15.05 $15.05
-29.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 $14.73
$17.03 $17.03
-13.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$5.79 $5.79
-15.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.66 $1.66
-8.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.68 $6.68
-32.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.02 $4.02
-2.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.67 $3.67
-25.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.76 $2.76
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.78 $1.78
12.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.87 $1.87
16.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.86 $8.86
$7.62 $7.62
16.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$17.74 $17.74
-15.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.78 $1.78
31.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.32 $3.32
3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.96 $1.96
-24.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.82 $42.82
$57.3 $57.3
-25.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.3 $4.3
$2.91 $2.91
47.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.53 $1.53
18.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.63 $34.63
$20.37 $20.37
70.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.84 $0.84
-13.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$32.7K $32.7K
-22.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
7.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$141 $141
25.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$54.8 $54.8
7.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.8 $64.8
$73.4 $73.4
-11.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.6 $62.6
$29.53 $29.53
111.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$18.1 $18.1
-43.81%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$13.29 $13.29
10.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$1,313 $1,313
4.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.4K $22.4K
$24.2K $24.2K
-7.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$49.68 $49.68
13.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 $46.46
$36.64 $36.64
26.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$94.6 $94.6
-8.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$153 $153
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,577 $2,577
-15.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 $1,395
$1,687 $1,687
-17.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,896 $3,896
$4,414 $4,414
-11.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,638 $2,638
1.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,414 $4,414
$4,656 $4,656
-5.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,161 $3,161
$3,200 $3,200
-1.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,871 $4,871
$4,603 $4,603
5.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.51
-0.92%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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