Cost of Living Comparison Between Clemson, SC and Livingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Clemson, SC and Livingston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,623 per month in Clemson, SC vs $2,228 in Livingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,470 per month in Clemson, SC vs $3,456 in Livingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,317 per month in Clemson, SC vs $4,684 in Livingston, rent included.

Clemson, SC costs about 18% more than Livingston, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Clemson, SC and Livingston sit above the global median – Clemson, SC by 96%, Livingston by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.63 $18.63

$20.17 £15.02

-7.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.76 $44.76

$96.2 £71.6

-53.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.80 $9.80

$9.91 £7.38

-1.11%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$4.81 £3.58

-0.21%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$2.67 £1.99

-26.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.19 £1.63

-32.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 $4.04

$6.73 £5.01

-39.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$6.63 £4.94

-7.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.64 £1.22

-47.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.65 £1.23

92.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.16 £1.61

56.94%

Eggs

$2.82 $2.82

$3.58 £2.66

-21.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$11.03 £8.22

-19.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$9.36 £6.97

57.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$16.25 £12.10

7.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.25 £2.42

43.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.64 £1.22

-37.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.70 £2.01

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.71 £2.76

-29.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.76 £1.31

55.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.49 £1.11

69.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.14 £0.85

31.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.74 £1.29

74.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.30 $7.30

$18.86 £14.04

-61.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.57 $15.57

$10.83 £8.07

43.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.49 £1.86

44.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 $5.75

$3.39 £2.52

69.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.18 £2.37

-38.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.7 £55.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.38 £4.01

-34.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.23 £0.92

52.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.74 $23.74

$22.78 £16.97

4.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.98 £1.48

-60.61%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$38.0K £28.3K

-4.30%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$39.9K £29.7K

-35.02%

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

$194 $194

$385 £287

-49.68%

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

$56.5 $56.5

$17.35 £12.92

225.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$44.39 £33.07

61.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.18 $43.18

$60.6 £45.10

-28.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.72 £25.11

Cinema Ticket

$16.09 $16.09

$10.92 £8.13

47.34%

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

$640 $640

$1,247 £929

-48.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.3K $26.3K

$18.9K £14.1K

39.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.6 $50.6

$104 £77.8

-51.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.71 $39.71

$53.8 £40.08

-26.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$116 £86.3

-13.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$84.1 £62.6

33.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 $983

$866 £645

13.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 $1,330

$782 £583

70.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$1,931 £1,438

35.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,799 $1,799

$1,593 £1,187

12.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,494 £2,602

2.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.7

14.74%

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

Last update for Clemson, SC: May 31, 2026

Last update for Livingston: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $983 in Clemson, SC versus $866 in Livingston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Clemson, SC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Clemson, SC versus $96.0 in Livingston. Groceries tell a different story – $388 in Clemson, SC vs $315 in Livingston – so Livingston wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Clemson, SC vs Livingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,623 in Clemson, SC, $2,228 in Livingston – roughly 18% apart. Clemson, SC costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,935 per month in Clemson, SC and $3,342 in Livingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Livingston, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,623 in Clemson, SC and $2,228 in Livingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $640 per month in Clemson, SC and $1,247 in Livingston. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Livingston, where all-in costs run around $2,228, than in Clemson, SC at $2,623. In Livingston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Clemson, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Livingston – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Livingston. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Clemson, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.