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

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 8.1% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 9.3% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 27.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.21 $18.21

$19.64 $19.64

-7.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 $60.5

$76.2 $76.2

-20.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.9 $11.9

$9.95 $9.95

19.60%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.61 $5.61

-31.91%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$2.64 $2.64

-10.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.19 $2.19

-15.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.84 $5.84

-24.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.6 $5.6

$7.92 $7.92

-29.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.13 $1.13

-23.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.3 $3.3

-20.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.5 $3.5

4.00%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.4 $4.4

-3.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$12 $12

-21.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.99 $12.99

$10.68 $10.68

21.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.61 $22.61

$14.73 $14.73

53.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$4.88 $4.88

6.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.52 $1.52

21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.53 $4.53

16.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.92 $3.92

-16.58%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.72 $2.72

17.28%

Onion (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$2.76 $2.76

67.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.01 $2.01

-1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.18 $2.18

-13.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.53 $8.53

$8.86 $8.86

-3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$14.96 $14.96

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.34 $2.34

-13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.44 $3.44

-23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.48 $1.48

32.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 $40.68

$42.82 $42.82

-5.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 $2.03

$4.3 $4.3

-52.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.82 $1.82

-16.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.06 $18.06

$34.63 $34.63

-47.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.73 $0.73

4.11%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

19.26%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

-2.73%

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

$218 $218

$177 $177

23.73%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$58.9 $58.9

-8.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$64.8 $64.8

-7.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 $40.01

$62.6 $62.6

-36.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 $7.01

$10.17 $10.17

-31.07%

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$14.72 $14.72

3.19%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$1,378 $1,378

3.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$22.4K $22.4K

-0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$56.3 $56.3

0.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.31 $35.31

$46.46 $46.46

-24.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$86.7 $86.7

-7.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$119 $119

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 $1,306

$2,188 $2,188

-40.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 $904

$1,395 $1,395

-35.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,200 $2,200

$3,896 $3,896

-43.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 $1,290

$2,689 $2,689

-52.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,827 $1,827

$4,414 $4,414

-58.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,750 $1,750

$3,161 $3,161

-44.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,526 $3,526

$4,871 $4,871

-27.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.45

1.40%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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