Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rock Hill, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Rock Hill, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,276 in Rock Hill, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,076 in Rock Hill, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $3,876 in Rock Hill, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 19% more expensive than in Rock Hill, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Rock Hill, SC 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$18.30 $18.30

9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$50.6 $50.6

47.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.16 $12.16

-19.00%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$4.93 $4.93

17.44%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.18 $2.18

26.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.72 $1.72

26.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.03 $5.03

18.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.81 $6.81

19.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.77 $0.77

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.72 $2.72

20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.04 $3.04

10.86%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.69 $3.69

16.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$10.12 $10.12

18.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.64 $8.64

22.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$9.95 $9.95

46.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.81 $3.81

32.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.21 $1.21

29.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.59 $4.59

-4.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.02 $4.02

1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.35 $2.35

17.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.16 $3.16

-10.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.81 $1.81

8.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.52 $1.52

46.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.35 $7.35

19.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$9.93 $9.93

48.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.69 $1.69

38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.31 $2.31

50.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.06 $2.06

109.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.39 $2.39

-24.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$17.85 $17.85

97.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.73 $0.73

9.59%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$29.6K $29.6K

-12.97%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.18%

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

$173 $173

$150 $150

15.85%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$75.4 $75.4

-22.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$70.9 $70.9

-5.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$20.08 $20.08

207.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$11.86 $11.86

24.79%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$892 $892

58.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$24.7K $24.7K

-10.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.1 $53.1

3.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$39.33 $39.33

18.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$64.3 $64.3

36.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$118 $118

1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,337 $1,337

64.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,191 $1,191

19.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,032 $2,032

85.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$1,589 $1,589

70.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$3,400 $3,400

49.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.59

-2.12%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Rock Hill, SC: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,337 in Rock Hill, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 50% 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 $51.0 in Rock Hill, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $302 per month, with Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rock Hill, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rock Hill, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 50% 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 $1,337 in Rock Hill, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $892 in Rock Hill, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Rock Hill, SC – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,276 in Rock Hill, SC versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Rock Hill, SC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Rock Hill, SC 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 Rock Hill, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.