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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,242 in Summerville, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,440 in Summerville, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,638 in Summerville, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 21% more expensive than Summerville, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Summerville, SC 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$16.53 $16.53

20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$90.2 $90.2

-15.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.66 $12.66

-19.98%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.66 $4.66

17.81%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.79 $2.79

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.02 $1.02

109.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.40 $4.40

37.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$5.91 $5.91

36.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.01 $1.01

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.85 $2.85

17.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.96 $3.96

-13.64%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$2.51 $2.51

72.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$8.38 $8.38

40.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$8.91 $8.91

19.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.11 $15.11

-4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.02 $5.02

-4.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.27 $1.27

18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.95 $3.95

14.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.54 $3.54

14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.10 $2.10

31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.03 $2.03

37.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.82 $1.82

12.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.38 $1.38

55.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$7.52 $7.52

22.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.10 $12.10

22.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.98 $1.98

15.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.98 $2.98

18.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.95 $1.95

-22.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.48 $3.48

23.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.51 $1.51

20.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$33.06 $33.06

7.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.75 $0.75

2.67%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$19.9K $19.9K

28.86%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$19.0K $19.0K

38.50%

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

$172 $172

$150 $150

14.64%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$64.5 $64.5

-6.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$70.3 $70.3

-4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$44.35 $44.35

41.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$9.89 $9.89

48.94%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,514 $1,514

-7.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

-6.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$50.2 $50.2

9.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$24.66 $24.66

85.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$110 $110

-20.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$101 $101

14.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,983 $1,983

13.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,150 $1,150

21.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$3,249 $3,249

16.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$1,996 $1,996

35.65%

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

$5,016 $5,016

-2.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.3

2.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Summerville, SC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,983 in Summerville, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Summerville, SC pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $90 in Summerville, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $375 vs $320, with Summerville, SC cheaper for home cooking.

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 Summerville, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Summerville, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Summerville, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Summerville, SC earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $1,983 in Summerville, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,514 in Summerville, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Summerville, SC – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Summerville, 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.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.