Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Sumter, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge and Sumter, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,238 in Cambridge versus $2,442 in Sumter, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Cambridge versus $3,506 in Sumter, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,804 in Cambridge versus $4,571 in Sumter, SC.

Living in Cambridge costs roughly 8% less than in Sumter, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cambridge 67% above, Sumter, SC 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.82 NZ$23.34

$18.10 $18.10

-23.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.76 NZ$60.4

$60.2 $60.2

-40.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 NZ$14.83

$10.17 $10.17

-13.67%

Cappuccino

$2.94 NZ$4.97

$5.08 $5.08

-42.13%

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

$2.30 NZ$3.89

$1.88 $1.88

22.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 NZ$3.62

$1.43 $1.43

50.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.83 NZ$8.16

$5.97 $5.97

-19.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.47 NZ$10.93

$6.82 $6.82

-5.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 NZ$2.75

$0.75 $0.75

117.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 NZ$2.87

$2.70 $2.70

-37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 NZ$3.17

$4.38 $4.38

-57.08%

Eggs

$6.18 NZ$10.44

$4.42 $4.42

39.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.39 NZ$14.16

$4.34 $4.34

93.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.11 NZ$15.39

$7.57 $7.57

20.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.48 NZ$21.07

$12.98 $12.98

-3.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 NZ$4.09

$5.64 $5.64

-57.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 NZ$3.19

$1.59 $1.59

18.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 NZ$4.11

$6.70 $6.70

-63.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 NZ$4.96

$4.01 $4.01

-26.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 NZ$3.58

$2.04 $2.04

3.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 NZ$2.98

$1.92 $1.92

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 NZ$3.58

$1.73 $1.73

22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 NZ$2.19

$1.03 $1.03

25.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$20.37 NZ$34.39

$8.23 $8.23

147.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.12 NZ$17.09

$15.60 $15.60

-35.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 NZ$4.25

$2.17 $2.17

16.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 NZ$4.47

$1.95 $1.95

35.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.99 NZ$5.04

$1.95 $1.95

53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 NZ$109

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 NZ$4.50

$2.92 $2.92

-8.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 NZ$3.33

$1.44 $1.44

36.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.74 NZ$60.3

$30.13 $30.13

18.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 NZ$2.80

$0.82 $0.82

102.44%

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

$27.5K NZ$46.4K

$34.5K $34.5K

-20.39%

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

$23.5K NZ$39.7K

$24.7K $24.7K

-4.79%

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

$109 NZ$184

$138 $138

-21.29%

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

$36.71 NZ$62.0

$55.4 $55.4

-33.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.79 NZ$67.2

$44.59 $44.59

-10.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.23 NZ$62.9

$43.27 $43.27

-13.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.85 NZ$20.01

$4.98 $4.98

137.95%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 NZ$15.69

$8.38 $8.38

10.86%

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

$742 NZ$1,253

$1,316 $1,316

-43.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K NZ$20.3K

$25.0K $25.0K

-52.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.7 NZ$167

$45.66 $45.66

116.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.8 NZ$95.8

$35.69 $35.69

59.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 NZ$177

$59.5 $59.5

75.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 NZ$218

$148 $148

-12.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 NZ$1,646

$1,587 $1,587

-38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 NZ$2,055

$1,346 $1,346

-9.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,146 NZ$3,623

$905 $905

137.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 NZ$2,684

$2,202 $2,202

-27.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,563 NZ$7,703

$1,485 $1,485

207.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,389 NZ$5,722

$1,460 $1,460

132.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,683 NZ$4,530

$4,133 $4,133

-35.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

25.00%

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

Last update for Cambridge: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sumter, SC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $975 in Cambridge and $1,587 in Sumter, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sumter, SC pays 54% 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: $36.00 in Cambridge vs $60.0 in Sumter, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $319 per month, with Cambridge 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

Cambridge vs Sumter, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cambridge is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sumter, SC earns 54% 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: $975 in Cambridge versus $1,587 in Sumter, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $742 in Cambridge versus $1,316 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 Cambridge – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $60.0 in Sumter, SC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,238 in Cambridge versus $2,442 in Sumter, SC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cambridge but tight or insufficient in Sumter, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Cambridge 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, Cambridge and Sumter, 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 Cambridge gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Sumter, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.