Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and North Charleston, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,684 in North Charleston, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,818 in North Charleston, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,953 in North Charleston, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 1% more expensive than in North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$17.87 $17.87

11.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$85.6 $85.6

-13.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.96 $9.96

-1.10%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$6.57 $6.57

-11.87%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.57 $2.57

7.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.33 $2.33

-6.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.01 $6.01

-0.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$8.15 $8.15

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.93 $0.93

18.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.04 $4.04

-18.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.20 $3.20

5.31%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.73 $3.73

15.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$13.81 $13.81

-12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$12.69 $12.69

-16.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$14.83 $14.83

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$6.77 $6.77

-25.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.65 $1.65

-4.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.67 $4.67

-6.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.73 $5.73

-28.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.76 $2.76

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.90 $2.90

-2.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.00 $2.00

-2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.30 $2.30

-3.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.70 $7.70

13.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.37 $15.37

-4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.83 $1.83

27.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.68 $2.68

29.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.41 $3.41

-55.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

$29.98 $29.98

42.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.07 $3.07

40.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.49 $1.49

20.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$20.38 $20.38

72.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.84 $0.84

-4.76%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.1K $29.1K

-11.61%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

5.56%

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

$173 $173

$208 $208

-16.56%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$64.1 $64.1

-8.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$73.3 $73.3

-8.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$43.74 $43.74

41.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$11.93 $11.93

24.06%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$754 $754

87.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$14.3K $14.3K

54.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$60.4 $60.4

-9.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$43.03 $43.03

8.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$92.0 $92.0

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$139 $139

-14.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,932 $1,932

13.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,278 $1,278

11.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$1,932 $1,932

95.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,953 $1,953

38.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,836 $2,836

158.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,847 $2,847

10.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$4,302 $4,302

18.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.49

-0.62%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,932 in North Charleston, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 18% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $86.0 in North Charleston, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $413 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 North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 18% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,932 in North Charleston, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,701 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,684 in North Charleston, SC – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in North Charleston, SC runs roughly 43% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, 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.