Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Pleasant, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Mount Pleasant, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,685 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,946 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $5,207 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in Mount Pleasant, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Mount Pleasant, SC 101% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$28.79 $28.79

-30.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$79.5 $79.5

-6.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.99 $9.99

-1.40%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.87 $4.87

18.89%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.49 $2.49

10.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.88 $1.88

15.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.94 $5.94

0.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.82 $7.82

3.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.00 $1.00

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.79 $3.79

-13.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.20 $3.20

5.31%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.49 $4.49

-4.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$14.21 $14.21

-15.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$14.92 $14.92

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$16.95 $16.95

-13.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.56 $5.56

-9.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.66 $1.66

-5.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$6.40 $6.40

-31.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.93 $3.93

3.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.78 $3.78

-26.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.75 $2.75

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.77 $1.77

10.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.86 $1.86

19.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.60 $7.60

15.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.66 $15.66

-6.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.86 $1.86

25.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.25 $3.25

6.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.95 $2.95

46.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.58 $1.58

13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$20.25 $20.25

73.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.6K $32.6K

-21.01%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.73%

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

$173 $173

$140 $140

23.74%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$65.6 $65.6

-10.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$72.2 $72.2

-7.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.24 $42.24

46.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.19 $13.19

12.21%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$1,333 $1,333

6.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$24.6K $24.6K

-9.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$49.65 $49.65

10.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$35.96 $35.96

29.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$95.6 $95.6

-8.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$153 $153

-22.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,570 $1,570

40.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,367 $1,367

4.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,671 $2,671

41.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,197 $2,197

23.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,902 $2,902

152.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,490 $2,490

26.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mount Pleasant, SC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,570 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Mount Pleasant, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $423 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 Mount Pleasant, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Pleasant, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mount Pleasant, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $4,052 in Austin, TX and $4,028 in Mount Pleasant, SC to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,570 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $1,333 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mount Pleasant, SC – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Mount Pleasant, SC 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.

Expats usually find Mount Pleasant, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.