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: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $2,446 in Sumter, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $3,485 in Sumter, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $4,524 in Sumter, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 11% more expensive than Sumter, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Sumter, SC 83% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$17.85 $17.85

11.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$59.5 $59.5

28.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$9.83 $9.83

3.05%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.05 $5.05

8.71%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$1.93 $1.93

40.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.38 $1.38

55.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.06 $6.06

0.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$7.18 $7.18

11.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.82 $2.82

18.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.41 $4.41

-22.45%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.41 $4.41

-2.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$4.45 $4.45

165.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$7.69 $7.69

38.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.34 $13.34

8.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.67 $5.67

-15.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.61 $1.61

-6.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.48 $6.48

-30.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.90 $3.90

3.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.01 $2.01

37.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.89 $1.89

47.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.71 $1.71

19.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.03 $1.03

108.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.27 $8.27

11.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$13.19 $13.19

12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.15 $2.15

6.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.06 $2.06

71.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.05 $2.05

-25.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.05 $3.05

40.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.45 $1.45

25.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$30.10 $30.10

18.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.81 $0.81

-4.94%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$35.3K $35.3K

-27.40%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.47%

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

$172 $172

$138 $138

24.61%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$55.6 $55.6

8.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$45.73 $45.73

47.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$42.32 $42.32

48.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

$5.05 $5.05

95.05%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$8.30 $8.30

77.47%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$1,337 $1,337

4.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

-10.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$45.20 $45.20

21.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$36.61 $36.61

24.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$59.4 $59.4

46.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$151 $151

-23.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,623 $1,623

38.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,327 $1,327

5.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$901 $901

319.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$2,187 $2,187

23.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$1,498 $1,498

387.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$1,474 $1,474

125.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$3,553 $3,553

38.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

4.8

34.38%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Sumter, SC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $1,623 in Sumter, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 38% 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 $59 in Sumter, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $317 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 11% 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.

Austin, TX pays 38% 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 $1,623 in Sumter, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $1,337 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 $59.0 versus $76.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,446 in Sumter, SC versus $2,719 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 11% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.