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: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,742 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,599 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,457 in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 1% less than in Myrtle Beach, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Myrtle Beach, SC 105% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$16.32 $16.32

20.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$81.3 $81.3

-6.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.02 $10.02

-1.60%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.60 $4.60

19.13%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.52 $2.52

5.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.94 $1.94

7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.49 $4.49

35.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$7.68 $7.68

6.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.01 $1.01

8.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.32 $3.32

2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.36 $4.36

-22.48%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.92 $3.92

11.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$13.75 $13.75

-12.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.59 $8.59

26.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$16.82 $16.82

-12.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.03 $5.03

-1.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.27 $1.27

18.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.11 $4.11

7.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.47 $3.47

18.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.37 $2.37

18.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.86 $2.86

0.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.72 $1.72

13.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.33 $1.33

63.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.58 $7.58

18.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.60 $12.60

19.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.99 $1.99

17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.98 $1.98

73.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.95 $1.95

-21.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.94 $2.94

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.72 $1.72

6.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$30.31 $30.31

14.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.76 $0.76

2.63%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

30.73%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$19.0K $19.0K

36.07%

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

$175 $175

$138 $138

26.45%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$54.4 $54.4

9.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$72.1 $72.1

-9.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$22.93 $22.93

167.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$10.13 $10.13

45.71%

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

$1,372 $1,372

$1,333 $1,333

2.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$24.8K $24.8K

-10.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$33.96 $33.96

66.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$24.65 $24.65

83.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$68.8 $68.8

23.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$96.8 $96.8

22.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$1,489 $1,489

47.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,727 $1,727

-18.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$1,932 $1,932

97.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$1,981 $1,981

35.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$2,453 $2,453

190.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$2,310 $2,310

33.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$3,612 $3,612

41.47%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Myrtle Beach, SC: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $1,489 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $81.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $379 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 wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 41% 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: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $1,489 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,372 in Austin, TX versus $1,333 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 $76.0 versus $81.0 in Myrtle Beach, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,742 in Myrtle Beach, SC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Austin, TX but tight or insufficient in Myrtle Beach, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Austin, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 1% less than in Myrtle Beach, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.