Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Austin, TX and in Mount Pleasant, SC: $2,698 and $2,782 a month, rent and utilities included.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Mount Pleasant, SC
Learn more

Mount Pleasant, SC Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,698

/mo nomad

Mount Pleasant, SC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,782

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Mount Pleasant, SC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Mount Pleasant, SC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $2,782 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Austin, TX $2,698
Mount Pleasant, SC $2,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $3,978 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Austin, TX $4,160
Mount Pleasant, SC $3,978

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $5,174 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Austin, TX $5,622
Mount Pleasant, SC $5,174

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 99% above, Mount Pleasant, SC 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.63 $20.63

$19.83 $19.83

4.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.6 $84.6

$79.7 $79.7

6.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.05 $11.05

9.23%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.71 $5.71

-4.03%

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

$3.80 $3.80

$2.66 $2.66

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.17 $2.17

13.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.09 $6.09

32.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.88 $8.88

$8.22 $8.22

8.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.99 $0.99

12.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.00 $4.00

-7.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.20 $3.20

5.31%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.38 $4.38

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$16.35 $16.35

-19.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.15 $14.15

$14.77 $14.77

-4.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.33 $16.33

$18.25 $18.25

-10.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$5.18 $5.18

-12.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.48 $1.48

-1.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.70 $4.70

0.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.72 $4.72

-12.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.79 $3.79

-31.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.14 $3.14

-25.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.03 $2.03

-12.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.32 $2.32

-7.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 $10.10

$8.39 $8.39

20.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.20 $15.20

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.46 $2.46

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.96 $2.96

16.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.94 $1.94

-20.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.99 $40.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.93 $2.93

-4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.22 $1.22

31.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.34 $34.34

$29.48 $29.48

16.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.98 $0.98

-4.08%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

30.64%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.13%

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

$223 $223

$172 $172

29.08%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$67.1 $67.1

-12.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.6 $70.6

$79.6 $79.6

-11.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.7 $57.7

$41.23 $41.23

39.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.53 $16.53

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$14.23 $14.23

0.21%

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

$1,511 $1,511

$1,250 $1,250

20.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$24.6K $24.6K

-15.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.17 $44.17

$36.69 $36.69

20.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$95.3 $95.3

-8.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$137 $137

-24.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 $1,940

$1,577 $1,577

23.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 $1,316

$1,468 $1,468

-10.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,664 $3,664

$2,836 $2,836

29.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,565 $2,565

$2,226 $2,226

15.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,354 $7,354

$2,742 $2,742

168.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,129 $3,129

$2,341 $2,341

33.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,286 $5,286

$6,633 $6,633

-20.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.48

4.78%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

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

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.8%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$1.5K 52.8% 11.5% $152

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$406 15.1%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$437 15.7% 7.7% $31

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$352 13.1%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$319 11.5% 9.4% $33

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$350 13%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$326 11.7% 6.8% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.8%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$144 5.2% 11.8% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.2%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$70 2.5% 19.2% $17

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$58 2.2%

Mount Pleasant, SC

$17 * 0.6% 71% $41

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $1,577 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mount Pleasant, SC pays 25% 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 $80.0 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $406 vs $437, with Austin, TX cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇺🇸 Mount Pleasant, SC

🕒 Local time

04:32 4:32 AM

05:32 5:32 AM

1 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

15,202

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Austin, TX Mount Pleasant, SC 1,720 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Mount Pleasant, SC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Mount Pleasant, SC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $1,577 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,511 in Austin, TX versus $1,250 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 Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $80.0 in Mount Pleasant, 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.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.