Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Myrtle Beach, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Myrtle Beach, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,453 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,432 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,411 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Myrtle Beach, SC 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.67 $17.67

12.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$75.5 $75.5

11.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$11.20 $11.20

9.82%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.30 $5.30

3.40%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.75 $2.75

35.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.23 $2.23

5.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.83 $5.83

33.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.89 $6.89

32.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.31 $3.31

13.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.52 $3.52

-2.56%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.96 $3.96

9.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.92 $12.92

1.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.79 $10.79

33.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.91 $14.91

15.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.13 $5.13

-12.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.30 $1.30

10.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.39 $4.39

6.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.69 $4.69

5.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.71 $3.71

-19.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.78 $2.78

-3.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.91 $1.91

-3.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.32 $2.32

-6.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.40 $7.40

27.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.75 $12.75

18.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.79 $1.79

61.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.06 $2.06

69.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.03 $3.03

-7.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.85 $1.85

-14.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$29.87 $29.87

17.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.87 $0.87

3.45%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$28.4K $28.4K

26.29%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$23.5K $23.5K

17.48%

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

$222 $222

$157 $157

41.57%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$68.0 $68.0

-14.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$77.7 $77.7

-11.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$51.5 $51.5

28.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$15.15 $15.15

-2.57%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.09 $11.09

24.26%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,481 $1,481

3.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

-15.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$49.79 $49.79

9.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$36.64 $36.64

20.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$85.3 $85.3

5.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$87.8 $87.8

23.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,535 $1,535

26.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$1,284 $1,284

-1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,388 $2,388

57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,823 $1,823

42.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$2,374 $2,374

211.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,283 $2,283

40.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,647 $3,647

39.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.07

6.10%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,535 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 39% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $76.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $375 per month, with Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,535 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,481 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Myrtle Beach, SC – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach, 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.