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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,701 in Austin, TX versus $2,308 in Union, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,086 in Austin, TX versus $3,469 in Union, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,470 in Austin, TX versus $4,630 in Union, SC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 17% more expensive than in Union, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Union, SC 73% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$9.11 $9.11

119.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.5 $74.5

$101 $101

-25.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.62 $8.62

14.27%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.88 $5.88

-1.53%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.25 $2.25

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.91 $1.91

13.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.81 $2.81

112.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$3.42 $3.42

137.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.02 $1.02

7.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.45 $2.45

33.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.39 $2.39

41.00%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$3.06 $3.06

40.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.02 $12.02

$8.60 $8.60

39.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$8.75 $8.75

20.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.59 $14.59

$10.17 $10.17

43.46%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.85 $2.85

76.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.35 $1.35

16.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.33 $3.33

31.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.32 $4.32

-5.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.65 $2.65

4.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.11 $2.11

33.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.68 $1.68

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.23 $1.23

81.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.75 $8.75

$7.32 $7.32

19.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.86 $8.86

66.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.81 $1.81

29.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.81 $4.81

-27.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.05 $2.05

-25.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.39 $4.39

-1.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.26 $2.26

-20.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.23 $35.23

$42.83 $42.83

-17.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.82 $0.82

-2.44%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$33.7K $33.7K

-23.64%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.7K $24.7K

8.63%

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

$173 $173

$171 $171

1.28%

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

$58.5 $58.5

$65.8 $65.8

-11.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$45.85 $45.85

46.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$42.22 $42.22

46.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.10 $13.10

12.98%

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

$1,414 $1,414

$2,591 $2,591

-45.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.1K $22.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-15.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$48.76 $48.76

12.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$20.95 $20.95

122.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$83.3 $83.3

5.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$99.9 $99.9

19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$1,579 $1,579

39.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,428 $1,428

$1,372 $1,372

4.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,769 $3,769

$2,657 $2,657

41.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,704 $2,704

$2,246 $2,246

20.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,334 $7,334

$2,647 $2,647

177.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,140 $3,140

$2,340 $2,340

34.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$2,461 $2,461

106.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

61.25%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Union, SC: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,200 in Austin, TX and $1,579 in Union, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 107% 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: $74.0 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Union, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $284, with Union, 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 Union, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Union, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Union, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 107% 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: $2,200 in Austin, TX versus $1,579 in Union, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,414 in Austin, TX versus $2,591 in Union, SC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Union, SC – a meal for two runs $101 versus $74.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,308 in Union, SC versus $2,701 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Union, SC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Union, 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 Union, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.