Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Simpsonville, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Simpsonville, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,206 in Simpsonville, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,223 in Simpsonville, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,240 in Simpsonville, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 22% more expensive than in Simpsonville, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Simpsonville, SC 61% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$18.40 $18.40

7.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$79.1 $79.1

6.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.14 $10.14

21.30%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.63 $4.63

18.36%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$2.59 $2.59

43.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.07 $2.07

14.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.61 $5.61

38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.72 $7.72

18.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.90 $0.90

25.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.10 $4.10

-8.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.72 $4.72

-27.33%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.07 $4.07

6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$11.68 $11.68

12.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$8.81 $8.81

63.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$19.46 $19.46

-11.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.57 $4.57

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.57 $1.57

-8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.20 $4.20

11.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.98 $3.98

24.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.71 $3.71

-19.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.82 $3.82

-29.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.38 $2.38

-22.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.95 $1.95

11.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.46 $8.46

11.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$14.81 $14.81

2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.67 $1.67

73.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$1.79 $1.79

94.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.09 $3.09

-9.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.44 $1.44

9.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$18.31 $18.31

92.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.83 $0.83

8.43%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$32.7K $32.7K

9.75%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

9.11%

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

$222 $222

$143 $143

54.72%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$55.1 $55.1

5.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$81.5 $81.5

-15.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$86.5 $86.5

-23.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$15.20 $15.20

-9.34%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,266 $1,266

20.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$10.1K $10.1K

110.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$52.1 $52.1

4.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$36.19 $36.19

21.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$86.7 $86.7

3.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$131 $131

-16.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,299 $1,299

49.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$968 $968

30.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,781 $1,781

111.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,539 $1,539

68.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$4,439 $4,439

14.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.43

0.16%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Simpsonville, SC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,299 in Simpsonville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 15% 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: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $79.0 in Simpsonville, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $385 per month, with Simpsonville, 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 Simpsonville, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Simpsonville, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Simpsonville, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 15% 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: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,299 in Simpsonville, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,266 in Simpsonville, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Simpsonville, SC – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,206 in Simpsonville, SC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Simpsonville, SC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Simpsonville, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Simpsonville, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Simpsonville, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.