😐A single person spends $2,591 per month in Clemson, SC vs $2,224 in Livingston, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,453 per month in Clemson, SC vs $3,404 in Livingston, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,316 per month in Clemson, SC vs $4,584 in Livingston, rent included.
😐Clemson, SC costs about 16% more than Livingston, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Clemson, SC and Livingston sit above the global median – Clemson, SC by 94%, Livingston by 66%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.29$19.29
$20.43£15.19
-5.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.48$44.48
$93.4£69.4
-52.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.90$9.90
$9.71£7.22
1.96%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$4.96£3.69
1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.79£2.08
-26.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47$1.47
$2.09£1.55
-29.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.10$4.10
$6.69£4.97
-38.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88$5.88
$6.70£4.98
-12.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.64£1.22
-48.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25$3.25
$1.71£1.27
90.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$2.09£1.55
67.46%
Eggs
$2.84$2.84
$3.45£2.57
-17.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.95$8.95
$10.93£8.13
-18.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.69$14.69
$9.11£6.77
61.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.53$17.53
$15.99£11.89
9.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$3.27£2.43
47.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03$1.03
$1.71£1.27
-39.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$2.59£1.93
10.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$3.87£2.88
-31.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$1.80£1.34
60.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.42$2.42
$1.45£1.08
66.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52$1.52
$1.15£0.85
32.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05$3.05
$1.73£1.29
76.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.29$7.29
$19.24£14.31
-62.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.51$15.51
$10.88£8.09
42.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.49$3.49
$2.58£1.92
35.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44$5.44
$3.31£2.46
64.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94$1.94
$3.33£2.47
-41.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$75.9£56.5
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43$3.43
$5.56£4.14
-38.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85$1.85
$1.26£0.94
46.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.15$24.15
$22.67£16.86
6.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75$0.75
$1.99£1.48
-62.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K$36.6K
$38.4K£28.6K
-4.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$39.8K£29.6K
-33.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192$192
$383£285
-49.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4$58.4
$17.68£13.15
230.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.9$72.9
$44.30£32.95
64.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.41$42.41
$62.1£46.19
-31.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.50£25.66
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.00$16.00
$11.00£8.18
45.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$645$645
$1,260£937
-48.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.9K$25.9K
$18.7K£13.9K
38.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7$50.7
$107£79.3
-52.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.14$40.14
$54.4£40.48
-26.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102$102
$114£85.0
-11.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$83.2£61.9
35.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958$958
$895£666
7.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,329$1,329
$774£576
71.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,642$2,642
$1,920£1,428
37.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,792$1,792
$1,540£1,145
16.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Clemson, SC
Livingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,587$3,587
$3,987£2,965
-10.02%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Livingston: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $958 in Clemson, SC versus $895 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 11% higher in Livingston, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Clemson, SC versus $93.0 in Livingston. Groceries tell a different story – $390 in Clemson, SC vs $313 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
How do living costs in Clemson, SC and in Livingston compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,591 in Clemson, SC, $2,224 in Livingston – roughly 16% apart. Clemson, SC costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Clemson, SC compared to Livingston?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,886 per month in Clemson, SC and $3,336 in Livingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Clemson, SC and Livingston?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Clemson, SC or Livingston?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,591 in Clemson, SC and $2,224 in Livingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Clemson, SC and Livingston?
Kindergarten costs $645 per month in Clemson, SC and $1,260 in Livingston. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Livingston, where all-in costs run around $2,224, than in Clemson, SC at $2,591. In Livingston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Clemson, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Clemson, SC or Livingston?
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.
Is Clemson, SC or Livingston safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Clemson, SC and Livingston?
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.
Clemson, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared