Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence, SC and Gold Coast Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence, SC and Gold Coast

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,536 in Florence, SC versus $2,541 in Gold Coast.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,707 in Florence, SC versus $3,706 in Gold Coast.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,878 in Florence, SC versus $4,872 in Gold Coast.

Monthly costs are close between Florence, SC and Gold Coast; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Florence, SC 91% above, Gold Coast 91% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.98 $14.98

$16.34 A$23.47

-8.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 $65.8

$98.1 A$141

-32.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$9.83 A$14.13

13.33%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$3.41 A$4.89

53.08%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$2.62 A$3.77

-10.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.27 A$3.26

-10.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.96 $3.96

$6.46 A$9.28

-38.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 $5.96

$7.82 A$11.23

-23.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.47 A$2.11

-32.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.59 A$3.73

24.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.25 A$3.24

94.22%

Eggs

$5.80 $5.80

$4.57 A$6.56

26.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 $8.80

$7.54 A$10.83

16.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$8.98 A$12.91

109.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.67 $22.67

$12.17 A$17.47

86.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$3.63 A$5.22

18.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.72 A$3.91

-50.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.79 A$5.44

14.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.85 A$5.54

15.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.37 A$3.40

-7.59%

Onion (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.31 A$3.32

93.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.95 A$2.80

-0.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.45 A$3.53

-16.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 $6.57

$31.66 A$45.48

-79.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.30 $14.30

$14.35 A$20.61

-0.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$6.07 A$8.71

-71.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$6.42 A$9.22

-52.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.61 A$3.76

-25.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.9 A$76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.08 A$2.98

90.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.39 A$2.00

66.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.72 $29.72

$33.43 A$48.02

-11.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.16 A$1.66

-31.03%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$29.2K A$42.0K

-1.38%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$21.7K A$31.1K

13.98%

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

$182 $182

$222 A$319

-18.36%

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

$52.9 $52.9

$32.10 A$46.10

64.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 $69.6

$54.3 A$78.0

28.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.08 $43.08

$45.80 A$65.8

-5.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.08 A$15.91

Cinema Ticket

$11.76 $11.76

$12.79 A$18.37

-8.05%

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

$1,454 $1,454

$2,103 A$3,021

-30.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$7,228 A$10.4K

224.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.83 $39.83

$62.3 A$89.4

-36.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 $29.65

$48.24 A$69.3

-38.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$90.9 A$130

11.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$123 A$176

-5.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 $762

$1,833 A$2,633

-58.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 $1,360

$1,321 A$1,898

2.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,057 $4,057

$2,591 A$3,722

56.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,234 $2,234

$2,006 A$2,881

11.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 $1,567

$9,538 A$13.7K

-83.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,539 $1,539

$6,308 A$9,060

-75.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,127 $3,127

$4,118 A$5,915

-24.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.54

-1.38%

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

Last update for Florence, SC: July 25, 2026

Last update for Gold Coast: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $762 in Florence, SC and $1,833 in Gold Coast. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gold Coast pays 32% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $66.0 in Florence, SC vs $98.0 in Gold Coast. Groceries flip the comparison at $431 vs $362, with Gold Coast cheaper for home cooking.

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

Florence, SC vs Gold Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Gold Coast. 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: $762 in Florence, SC versus $1,833 in Gold Coast. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Gold Coast pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Florence, SC – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $98.0 in Gold Coast. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,536 in Florence, SC versus $2,541 in Gold Coast, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Florence, SC but tight or insufficient in Gold Coast. The gap between the two cities makes Florence, SC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Florence, SC and Gold Coast are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

It comes down to priorities – Florence, SC wins on affordability, Gold Coast on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.