Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,930 in Hilton Head Island, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $2,684 in Hilton Head Island, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $2,437 in Hilton Head Island, SC.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 10% less than in Hilton Head Island, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Hilton Head Island, SC 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$20.23 $20.23

-1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$59.5 $59.5

41.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.17 $12.17

0.82%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$4.98 $4.98

13.05%

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

$3.59 $3.59

$3.03 $3.03

18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.96 $1.96

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.13 $5.13

52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$6.03 $6.03

50.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.75 $0.75

52.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.06 $3.06

18.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.80 $3.80

-12.89%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$2.85 $2.85

55.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$8.65 $8.65

50.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$9.34 $9.34

57.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$12.97 $12.97

34.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.53 $4.53

1.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.41 $1.41

2.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.79 $3.79

25.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.47 $4.47

10.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.83 $2.83

6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.88 $2.88

-4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.50 $2.50

-22.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.42 $2.42

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$10.18 $10.18

-9.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.92 $14.92

-0.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.15 $2.15

33.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.12 $3.12

15.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.48 $1.48

90.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.16 $1.16

37.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$13.89 $13.89

149.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.85 $0.85

11.76%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$36.5K $36.5K

-2.07%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.40%

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

$229 $229

$199 $199

15.34%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$55.7 $55.7

5.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$67.2 $67.2

3.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

$20.20 $20.20

225.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$14.76 $14.76

-6.10%

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

$1,501 $1,501

$1,328 $1,328

13.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$11.8K $11.8K

76.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$34.94 $34.94

53.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$34.52 $34.52

28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$81.2 $81.2

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$69.7 $69.7

55.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$2,131 $2,131

-9.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,800 $1,800

-29.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$2,263 $2,263

66.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

$3,605 $3,605

103.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

$3,707 $3,707

-12.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$3,401 $3,401

48.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.13

5.06%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Hilton Head Island, SC: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $2,131 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Hilton Head Island, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $345 per month, with Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,646 vs $2,930 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 48% 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: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $2,131 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,501 in Austin, TX versus $1,328 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $84.0 versus $59.0 in Hilton Head Island, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Hilton Head Island, 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Hilton Head Island, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.