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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $1,955 in Sumter, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $2,872 in Sumter, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $3,789 in Sumter, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 38% more expensive than in Sumter, SC, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, Sumter, SC 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.76 $17.76

11.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$59.9 $59.9

39.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$10.98 $10.98

12.02%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.71 $5.71

-4.03%

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

$3.72 $3.72

$1.88 $1.88

97.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.43 $1.43

65.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.97 $5.97

29.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.00 $7.00

30.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.93 $0.93

21.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.29 $3.29

13.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.52 $3.52

-2.56%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$4.67 $4.67

-6.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$16.39 $16.39

-19.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$9.83 $9.83

46.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$13.05 $13.05

31.80%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.38 $5.38

-16.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.48 $1.48

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.53 $4.53

3.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.63 $4.63

7.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.70 $3.70

-18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.05 $3.05

-11.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.03 $2.03

-8.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.34 $2.34

-6.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$10.12 $10.12

-6.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$15.58 $15.58

-3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.46 $2.46

17.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.69 $3.69

-5.42%

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

$2.93 $2.93

-4.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.83 $1.83

-13.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$29.85 $29.85

17.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.84 $0.84

7.14%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.9K $34.9K

2.77%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

9.04%

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

$222 $222

$171 $171

29.73%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$67.4 $67.4

-13.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$40.75 $40.75

69.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$15.12 $15.12

337.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

$4.97 $4.97

196.98%

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$7.09 $7.09

94.36%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,475 $1,475

3.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

-15.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$51.3 $51.3

6.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$36.89 $36.89

19.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$92.9 $92.9

-3.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$143 $143

-24.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,028 $1,028

88.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$806 $806

56.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$1,308 $1,308

187.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,238 $1,238

109.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,484 $1,484

399.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$1,461 $1,461

119.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$4,065 $4,065

25.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.4

19.26%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sumter, SC: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,028 in Sumter, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 25% 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 $60.0 in Sumter, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $417 vs $394 per month, with Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sumter, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sumter, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 25% 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 $1,028 in Sumter, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Austin, TX versus $1,475 in Sumter, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sumter, SC – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $84.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,955 in Sumter, SC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sumter, SC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.