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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,287 in Rock Hill, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,088 in Rock Hill, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $3,889 in Rock Hill, SC.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Rock Hill, SC 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$17.81 $17.81

12.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$49.49 $49.49

54.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$11.97 $11.97

-15.37%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.95 $4.95

10.91%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.14 $2.14

27.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.74 $1.74

22.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.08 $5.08

19.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$6.98 $6.98

15.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.80 $2.80

19.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.03 $3.03

12.87%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$3.56 $3.56

21.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.44 $10.44

13.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.52 $8.52

25.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$9.85 $9.85

47.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$3.90 $3.90

22.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.20 $1.20

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.79 $4.79

-5.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.96 $3.96

2.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.33 $2.33

18.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.32 $3.32

-15.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.83 $1.83

11.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.56 $1.56

37.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.64 $7.64

20.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$9.82 $9.82

50.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.63 $1.63

40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.42 $2.42

45.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.06 $2.06

-26.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$1.99 $1.99

115.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.31 $2.31

-21.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$17.86 $17.86

98.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.68 $0.68

13.24%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

-15.07%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

1.38%

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

$172 $172

$150 $150

14.80%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$76.1 $76.1

-20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$69.9 $69.9

-3.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$20.19 $20.19

211.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$11.79 $11.79

24.94%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$912 $912

53.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

-11.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$53.2 $53.2

3.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$39.41 $39.41

15.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$64.3 $64.3

35.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$116 $116

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,361 $1,361

64.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,162 $1,162

20.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$2,005 $2,005

88.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,586 $1,586

70.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,436 $3,436

42.91%

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: April 20, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,361 in Rock Hill, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 43% 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: $76 in Austin, TX vs $49 in Rock Hill, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $304 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.

Austin, TX pays 43% 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,361 in Rock Hill, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $912 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 $49.00 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,287 in Rock Hill, SC versus $2,719 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.