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: $2,270 in Florence, SC versus $2,884 in Gold Coast.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,160 in Florence, SC versus $4,305 in Gold Coast.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,049 in Florence, SC versus $5,726 in Gold Coast.

Living in Florence, SC costs roughly 21% less than in Gold Coast, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Florence, SC 65% above, Gold Coast 109% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.07 $15.07

$22.06 A$30.76

-31.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.4 $65.4

$106 A$148

-38.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 $11.15

$10.62 A$14.81

4.99%

Cappuccino

$4.78 $4.78

$3.96 A$5.52

20.71%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.89 A$4.03

-10.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 A$3.53

-20.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.71 A$10.75

-33.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$7.91 A$11.03

-10.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.70 A$2.37

-40.59%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.70 A$3.77

55.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.09 $6.09

$2.48 A$3.46

145.56%

Eggs

$5.26 $5.26

$4.91 A$6.85

7.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$9.19 A$12.82

23.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.56 A$13.33

55.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.56 $25.56

$14.92 A$20.80

71.31%

Apples (1kg)

$6.33 $6.33

$3.89 A$5.43

62.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$3.29 A$4.58

-45.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$3.43 A$4.78

102.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.28 A$5.96

41.12%

Potato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.60 A$3.62

59.62%

Onion (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$2.54 A$3.54

142.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.56 A$3.56

-9.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.38 A$3.32

28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.94 $7.94

$46.22 A$64.4

-82.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.49 $14.49

$14.59 A$20.33

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$5.95 A$8.30

-67.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 $5.76

$7.13 A$9.95

-19.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.87 A$4.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.8 A$82.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.21 A$3.08

222.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.63 A$2.27

12.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.33 A$52.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.28 A$1.78

-25.00%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$28.5K A$39.7K

24.55%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$34.2K A$47.7K

-26.15%

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

$225 $225

$221 A$309

1.50%

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

$55.7 $55.7

$31.72 A$44.23

75.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.20 $40.20

$56.6 A$79.0

-29.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.90 A$68.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.85 A$24.89

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$14.28 A$19.91

6.02%

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

$1,328 $1,328

$2,227 A$3,106

-40.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K A$16.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.84 $39.84

$79.4 A$111

-49.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.84 $29.84

$55.3 A$77.1

-46.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$106 A$148

-1.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 $70.1

$127 A$176

-44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 $962

$2,463 A$3,434

-60.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 $1,000

$1,510 A$2,105

-33.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,508 $1,508

$2,949 A$4,111

-48.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,350 $1,350

$2,599 A$3,623

-48.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,546 $1,546

$10.7K A$14.9K

-85.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,545 $1,545

$7,268 A$10.1K

-78.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,156 $3,156

$4,285 A$5,974

-26.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

5.73

5.24%

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

Last update for Florence, SC: September 6, 2026

Last update for Gold Coast: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $962 in Florence, SC and $2,463 in Gold Coast. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gold Coast pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Florence, SC vs $106 in Gold Coast. Groceries flip the comparison at $504 vs $393, 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

Florence, SC wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Gold Coast. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Florence, SC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 36% 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: $962 in Florence, SC versus $2,463 in Gold Coast. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,328 in Florence, SC versus $2,227 in Gold Coast. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Florence, SC – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $106 in Gold Coast. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,270 in Florence, SC versus $2,884 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.

Expats usually find Florence, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Gold Coast. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.