🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,657 in Austin, TX versus $2,950 in Hilton Head Island, SC.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,822 in Hilton Head Island, SC.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,546 in Austin, TX versus $4,694 in Hilton Head Island, SC.
🙂Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 10% less than in Hilton Head Island, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX98% above, Hilton Head Island, SC120% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85$19.85
$19.69$19.69
0.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$59.8$59.8
24.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03$10.03
$12.17$12.17
-17.58%
Cappuccino
$5.52$5.52
$4.77$4.77
15.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.88$2.88
-3.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.94$1.94
8.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$4.83$4.83
25.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.81$7.81
$5.38$5.38
45.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$0.75$0.75
50.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$3.62$3.62
-4.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$3.10$3.10
10.32%
Eggs
$4.37$4.37
$2.86$2.86
52.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24$12.24
$8.77$8.77
39.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.79$10.79
$9.35$9.35
15.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.36$14.36
$13.16$13.16
9.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.99$4.99
$4.31$4.31
15.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51$1.51
$1.46$1.46
3.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38$4.38
$3.12$3.12
40.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$3.96$3.96
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$2.74$2.74
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$3.45$3.45
-19.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$2.99$2.99
-33.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$2.66$2.66
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.74$8.74
$8.03$8.03
8.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81$14.81
$14.99$14.99
-1.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26$2.26
$1.98$1.98
14.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58$3.58
$3.29$3.29
8.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54$1.54
$2.03$2.03
-24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.09$43.09
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45$4.45
$4.10$4.10
8.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81$1.81
$2.55$2.55
-29.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.30$35.30
$24.80$24.80
42.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$0.69$0.69
7.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$26.7K$26.7K
-4.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$24.7K$24.7K
7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$197$197
-13.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3$60.3
$43.99$43.99
36.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0$67.0
$61.4$61.4
9.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.6$61.6
$19.63$19.63
213.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.83$9.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.14$15.14
$14.05$14.05
7.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,381$1,381
$1,294$1,294
6.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.8K$21.8K
$11.2K$11.2K
95.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9$56.9
$35.60$35.60
59.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.94$45.94
$35.57$35.57
29.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0$86.0
$79.0$79.0
8.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119$119
$70.1$70.1
70.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,183$2,183
$2,128$2,128
2.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,417$1,417
$1,783$1,783
-20.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,801$3,801
$2,273$2,273
67.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,711$2,711
$2,225$2,225
21.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,204$7,204
$3,630$3,630
98.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,239$3,239
$3,722$3,722
-12.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Hilton Head Island, SC
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,914$4,914
$3,426$3,426
43.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
6.53
-1.23%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Austin, TX: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Hilton Head Island, SC: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,183 in Austin, TX and $2,128 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Austin, TX pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $60.0 in Hilton Head Island, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $348 per month, with Hilton Head Island, SC cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Austin, TX vs Hilton Head Island, SC: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC?
Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($2,657 vs $2,950 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or Hilton Head Island, SC?
Austin, TX pays 43% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX vs Hilton Head Island, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,183 in Austin, TX versus $2,128 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Austin, TX and Hilton Head Island, SC?
Childcare runs $1,381 in Austin, TX versus $1,294 in Hilton Head Island, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX vs Hilton Head Island, SC?
Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $60.0 in Hilton Head Island, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or Hilton Head Island, SC?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Hilton Head Island, SC?
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.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Hilton Head Island, SC?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
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.
Austin, TX vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado