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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,741 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,568 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,395 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 3% less than in Myrtle Beach, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, Myrtle Beach, SC 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$16.27 $16.27

20.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$79.1 $79.1

-5.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.14 $10.14

-2.17%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$4.57 $4.57

24.07%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.43 $2.43

13.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.86 $1.86

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.56 $4.56

28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.92 $7.92

-1.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.97 $0.97

12.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.22 $3.22

5.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.24 $4.24

-19.10%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.99 $3.99

10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.00 $14.00

-14.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$8.67 $8.67

24.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$16.41 $16.41

-12.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$5.12 $5.12

-5.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.26 $1.26

23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.96 $3.96

12.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.66 $3.66

6.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.31 $2.31

18.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.77 $2.77

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.79 $1.79

13.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.34 $1.34

67.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.41 $7.41

20.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$12.53 $12.53

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.09 $2.09

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.97 $1.97

81.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.04 $2.04

-27.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.04 $3.04

40.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.74 $1.74

5.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$30.42 $30.42

16.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.80 $0.80

-10.00%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$20.3K $20.3K

26.82%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$19.2K $19.2K

36.21%

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

$174 $174

$140 $140

24.02%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$54.1 $54.1

11.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$71.1 $71.1

-6.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$22.86 $22.86

174.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$10.15 $10.15

50.15%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$1,322 $1,322

4.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

-9.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$33.04 $33.04

71.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$24.54 $24.54

84.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$68.8 $68.8

25.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$99.7 $99.7

19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,496 $1,496

50.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,697 $1,697

-15.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,997 $1,997

89.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,947 $1,947

35.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,409 $2,409

192.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,354 $2,354

34.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$3,659 $3,659

39.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.36

1.42%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,496 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $352, with Myrtle Beach, SC cheaper for home cooking.

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

Austin, TX and Myrtle Beach, SC differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,659 vs $2,741 including rent). Austin, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Austin, TX pays 40% more on average, 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: $2,247 in Austin, TX versus $1,496 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,387 in Austin, TX versus $1,322 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 Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $79.0 in Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.