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: $2,659 in Austin, TX versus $2,634 in North Charleston, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,101 in Austin, TX versus $3,800 in North Charleston, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,542 in Austin, TX versus $4,967 in North Charleston, SC.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 98% above, North Charleston, SC 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$17.76 $17.76

10.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$86.3 $86.3

-13.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.97 $9.97

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$6.50 $6.50

-12.77%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$2.60 $2.60

6.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.26 $2.26

-3.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.10 $6.10

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$7.89 $7.89

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.92 $3.92

-13.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.12 $3.12

9.94%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$3.76 $3.76

16.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.10 $14.10

-15.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.76 $10.76

$12.74 $12.74

-15.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.29 $14.29

$14.96 $14.96

-4.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$6.88 $6.88

-29.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.68 $1.68

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.72 $4.72

-5.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.53 $5.53

-29.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.82 $2.82

-2.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.83 $2.83

-3.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.02 $2.02

0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.35 $2.35

-4.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.66 $7.66

16.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$15.36 $15.36

-3.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.71 $2.71

31.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.40 $3.40

-56.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.98 $42.98

$30.20 $30.20

42.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 $4.28

$2.93 $2.93

46.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.49 $1.49

23.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.54 $35.54

$20.07 $20.07

77.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.83 $0.83

-13.25%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.7K $29.7K

-13.50%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.85%

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

$174 $174

$214 $214

-18.80%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$64.4 $64.4

-6.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$73.9 $73.9

-10.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$43.73 $43.73

43.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.83 $9.83

Cinema Ticket

$15.24 $15.24

$11.99 $11.99

27.11%

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

$1,387 $1,387

$765 $765

81.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$14.6K $14.6K

51.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$61.9 $61.9

-8.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.34 $45.34

$43.01 $43.01

5.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$92.6 $92.6

-6.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$138 $138

-13.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,959 $1,959

14.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,322 $1,322

8.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,778 $3,778

$1,922 $1,922

96.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,641 $2,641

$1,963 $1,963

34.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,044 $7,044

$2,798 $2,798

151.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,162 $3,162

$2,880 $2,880

9.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,108 $5,108

$4,364 $4,364

17.05%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,247 in Austin, TX and $1,959 in North Charleston, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 17% 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: $75.0 in Austin, TX vs $86.0 in North Charleston, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $415 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.

Austin, TX pays 17% 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 $1,959 in North Charleston, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,659 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,634 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 42% 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.