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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,987 in Charleston, SC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,266 in Charleston, SC versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,544 in Charleston, SC versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Charleston, SC is roughly 12% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charleston, SC 123% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.31 $18.31

$19.63 $19.63

-6.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$75.1 $75.1

4.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$9.92 $9.92

2.62%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$5.67 $5.67

-11.82%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$2.77 $2.77

-12.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 $1.88

$2.17 $2.17

-13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.84 $5.84

5.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.77 $7.77

-0.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.09 $1.09

-7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.41 $3.41

12.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.43 $3.43

-7.29%

Eggs

$4.67 $4.67

$4.39 $4.39

6.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$11.95 $11.95

17.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.76 $10.76

39.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$14.29 $14.29

20.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.84 $4.84

18.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.55 $1.55

7.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$4.46 $4.46

44.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.91 $3.91

3.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.74 $2.74

39.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.74 $2.74

4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.04 $2.04

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.25 $2.25

-12.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.30 $7.30

$8.93 $8.93

-18.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 $19.70

$14.85 $14.85

32.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.35 $2.35

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.57 $3.57

-10.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.47 $1.47

38.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.5 $57.5

$42.98 $42.98

33.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.28 $4.28

-31.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.84 $1.84

-13.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.70 $19.70

$35.54 $35.54

-44.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.72 $0.72

6.94%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

28.99%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.97%

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

$143 $143

$174 $174

-17.93%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$60.2 $60.2

-10.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$66.3 $66.3

10.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.48 $29.48

$62.8 $62.8

-53.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 $18.21

$9.83 $9.83

85.25%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 $13.10

$15.24 $15.24

-14.04%

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

$1,326 $1,326

$1,387 $1,387

-4.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$22.2K $22.2K

11.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 $49.37

$56.7 $56.7

-12.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.46 $35.46

$45.34 $45.34

-21.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$86.5 $86.5

6.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$119 $119

30.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,511 $2,511

$2,247 $2,247

11.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,725 $1,725

$1,430 $1,430

20.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,406 $4,406

$3,778 $3,778

16.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 $2,698

$2,641 $2,641

2.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,667 $5,667

$7,044 $7,044

-19.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,973 $2,973

$3,162 $3,162

-5.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,627 $4,627

$5,108 $5,108

-9.41%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,511 in Charleston, SC and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Charleston, SC vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $436 vs $377 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Charleston, SC vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Charleston, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Austin, TX earns 10% 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: $2,511 in Charleston, SC versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,987 per month in Charleston, SC versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 34% less than in Charleston, SC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Charleston, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.