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

😐 Solo nomad: Charleston, SC is 2.9% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Charleston, SC is 1.3% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 1.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.95 $17.95

$19.64 $19.64

-8.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$76.2 $76.2

4.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 $9.9

$9.95 $9.95

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.61 $5.61

-10.16%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$2.64 $2.64

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.19 $2.19

-10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.9 $5.9

$5.84 $5.84

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.92 $7.92

0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1 $1

$1.13 $1.13

-11.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.3 $3.3

13.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.5 $3.5

-8.00%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.4 $4.4

1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.9 $13.9

$12 $12

15.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.68 $10.68

40.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$14.73 $14.73

15.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.88 $4.88

18.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.52 $1.52

9.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.68 $6.68

$4.53 $4.53

47.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.92 $3.92

2.55%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.72 $2.72

34.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.01 $2.01

-11.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.18 $2.18

-14.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 $7.62

$8.86 $8.86

-14.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 $17.74

$14.96 $14.96

18.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.34 $2.34

-23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.44 $3.44

-3.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.48 $1.48

32.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.3 $57.3

$42.82 $42.82

33.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 $2.91

$4.3 $4.3

-32.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.82 $1.82

-15.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.37 $20.37

$34.63 $34.63

-41.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.73 $0.73

15.07%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$25.5K $25.5K

28.40%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-6.57%

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

$141 $141

$177 $177

-20.35%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$58.9 $58.9

-7.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$64.8 $64.8

13.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.53 $29.53

$62.6 $62.6

-52.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.1 $18.1

$10.17 $10.17

77.97%

Cinema Ticket

$13.29 $13.29

$14.72 $14.72

-9.71%

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

$1,313 $1,313

$1,378 $1,378

-4.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K $24.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

8.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.68 $49.68

$56.3 $56.3

-11.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.64 $36.64

$46.46 $46.46

-21.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 $94.6

$86.7 $86.7

9.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$119 $119

28.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 $2,577

$2,188 $2,188

17.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,687 $1,687

$1,395 $1,395

20.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,414 $4,414

$3,896 $3,896

13.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,689 $2,689

-1.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,656 $4,656

$4,414 $4,414

5.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,200 $3,200

$3,161 $3,161

1.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,603 $4,603

$4,871 $4,871

-5.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.45

0.93%

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

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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