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: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,452 in Goose Creek, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,568 in Goose Creek, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,685 in Goose Creek, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 10% more expensive than in Goose Creek, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Goose Creek, SC 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$17.69 $17.69

11.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$79.7 $79.7

-4.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.98 $4.98

10.04%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.51 $2.51

5.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.89 $1.89

10.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.14 $6.14

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.77 $7.77

4.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.77 $0.77

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.26 $3.26

3.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.20 $4.20

-19.52%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$2.72 $2.72

61.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.24 $13.24

-8.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$16.47 $16.47

-34.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$13.02 $13.02

12.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.83 $5.83

-14.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.66 $1.66

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$6.61 $6.61

-33.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.95 $3.95

3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.78 $3.78

-25.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.70 $2.70

6.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.73 $1.73

12.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.51 $1.51

44.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.85 $7.85

14.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$11.98 $11.98

26.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.13 $2.13

9.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.30 $3.30

3.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.03 $2.03

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.06 $3.06

44.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.50 $1.50

22.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$30.27 $30.27

14.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.87 $0.87

-10.34%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

-14.91%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.11%

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

$175 $175

$143 $143

22.50%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$52.3 $52.3

14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$71.2 $71.2

-8.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$48.69 $48.69

25.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$17.80 $17.80

-44.44%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$9.23 $9.23

59.91%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$656 $656

109.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

-11.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$41.57 $41.57

35.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$35.65 $35.65

27.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$78.3 $78.3

8.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$86.3 $86.3

37.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,424 $1,424

54.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,239 $1,239

13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,196 $2,196

73.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,984 $1,984

35.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,061 $2,061

246.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,089 $2,089

47.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$2,940 $2,940

73.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.25

3.20%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Goose Creek, SC: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,424 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 74% 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: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $80.0 in Goose Creek, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $398 per month, with Austin, TX 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 10% 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 74% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,424 in Goose Creek, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $656 in Goose Creek, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Goose Creek, SC – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,452 in Goose Creek, SC versus $2,706 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 10% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.