Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Goose Creek, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Goose Creek, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,715 in Austin, TX versus $2,489 in Goose Creek, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,156 in Austin, TX versus $3,463 in Goose Creek, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,596 in Austin, TX versus $4,437 in Goose Creek, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 9% more expensive than in Goose Creek, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Goose Creek, SC 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.66 $19.66

$15.95 $15.95

23.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$59.3 $59.3

42.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.03 $11.03

11.51%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$4.92 $4.92

10.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$2.63 $2.63

37.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.96 $1.96

22.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.01 $5.01

57.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.89 $8.89

$5.90 $5.90

50.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.91 $0.91

17.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.12 $3.12

17.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.18 $3.18

5.03%

Eggs

$4.29 $4.29

$2.96 $2.96

44.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$12.77 $12.77

1.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$14.79 $14.79

-3.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 $16.68

$13.76 $13.76

21.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.42 $5.42

-17.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.50 $4.50

2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.70 $4.70

-0.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.78 $3.78

-28.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.16 $3.16

-18.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.98 $1.98

-4.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.80 $1.80

21.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 $10.04

$7.82 $7.82

28.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.97 $11.97

25.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.37 $2.37

23.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.72 $3.72

-11.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.02 $2.02

-24.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.52 $41.52

$61.1 $61.1

-32.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.94 $2.94

-8.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.58 $1.58

4.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.05 $35.05

$24.94 $24.94

40.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.4K $36.4K

$28.0K $28.0K

29.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K $27.1K

$24.9K $24.9K

8.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$223 $223

$174 $174

28.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.4 $57.4

$68.8 $68.8

-16.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$79.8 $79.8

-14.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.6 $65.6

$44.75 $44.75

46.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.61 $14.61

$18.47 $18.47

-20.90%

Cinema Ticket

$13.95 $13.95

$10.40 $10.40

34.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,523 $1,523

$658 $658

131.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$12.8K $12.8K

66.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$47.60 $47.60

11.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 $42.81

$37.90 $37.90

12.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$82.6 $82.6

3.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$98.7 $98.7

4.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,948 $1,948

$1,372 $1,372

41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,267 $1,267

$1,214 $1,214

4.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,765 $3,765

$1,965 $1,965

91.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,553 $2,553

$1,679 $1,679

52.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,179 $7,179

$2,062 $2,062

248.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,114 $2,114

48.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,955 $4,955

$2,943 $2,943

68.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.07

6.59%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 14, 2026

Last update for Goose Creek, SC: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,948 in Austin, TX and $1,372 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Goose Creek, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $386 per month, with Goose Creek, SC cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Goose Creek, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Goose Creek, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Goose Creek, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 68% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,948 in Austin, TX versus $1,372 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,715 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,489 in Goose Creek, SC – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Goose Creek, SC runs roughly 47% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,489 in Goose Creek, SC versus $2,715 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goose Creek, SC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Goose Creek, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Goose Creek, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Goose Creek, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.