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 $1,820 per month in Clemson, SC vs $2,030 in Livingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,775 per month in Clemson, SC vs $3,148 in Livingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,729 per month in Clemson, SC vs $4,265 in Livingston, rent included.

Clemson, SC is about 10% cheaper than Livingston, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Clemson, SC and Livingston sit above the global median – Clemson, SC by 32%, Livingston by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 $14.83

$20.08 £14.84

-26.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 $50.6

$103 £75.9

-50.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$10.91 £8.07

11.55%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$5.14 £3.80

-5.25%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$2.63 £1.95

-12.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.37 £1.75

-29.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 $3.96

$6.59 £4.87

-39.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.74 £4.98

-12.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.47 £1.09

-43.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.93 £1.43

26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.22 £1.64

74.32%

Eggs

$3.35 $3.35

$3.73 £2.76

-10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 $10.08

$9.39 £6.94

7.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.22 $11.22

$9.31 £6.89

20.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.74 $8.74

$14.90 £11.01

-41.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.05 £2.26

69.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.72 £1.27

-14.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$2.95 £2.18

58.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.63 £2.68

23.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.67 £1.24

70.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.44 £1.07

140.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.18 £0.87

70.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.59 £1.17

16.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.84 $6.84

$22.85 £16.89

-70.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.13 $16.13

$10.89 £8.05

48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.05 £2.25

-38.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$3.18 £2.35

-16.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$5.50 £4.06

-64.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.63 £1.20

-3.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.86 $17.86

$27.98 £20.68

-36.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$2.09 £1.54

-62.68%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$39.0K £28.8K

-24.28%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$41.3K £30.6K

-38.64%

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

$277 $277

$336 £248

-17.65%

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

$50.5 $50.5

$16.66 £12.32

203.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.37 $49.37

$41.19 £30.45

19.86%

Cinema Ticket

$14.03 $14.03

$11.03 £8.15

27.20%

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

$656 $656

$1,250 £924

-47.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K $22.8K

$18.2K £13.4K

25.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.68 $19.68

$93.1 £68.8

-78.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.22 $15.22

$49.64 £36.69

-69.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$109 £80.7

-25.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 $50.8

$99.1 £73.3

-48.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$851 $851

$880 £651

-3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$696 $696

$777 £574

-10.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 $1,595

$1,930 £1,426

-17.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 $1,556

$1,556 £1,150

0.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,637 $3,637

$4,139 £3,060

-12.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

5.15

18.45%

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

Last update for Clemson, SC: August 29, 2026

Last update for Livingston: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $851 in Clemson, SC versus $880 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 14% higher in Livingston, 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 $51.0 in Clemson, SC versus $103 in Livingston. Groceries tell a different story – $342 in Clemson, SC vs $308 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: $1,820 in Clemson, SC, $2,030 in Livingston – roughly 12% apart. Livingston costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,730 per month in Clemson, SC and $3,045 in Livingston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Clemson, SC, 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 $1,820 in Clemson, SC and $2,030 in Livingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $656 per month in Clemson, SC and $1,250 in Livingston. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Clemson, SC, where all-in costs run around $1,820, than in Livingston at $2,030. In Clemson, SC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Livingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Clemson, SC – 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 Clemson, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Livingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.