Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Menlo Park, CA and North Charleston, SC

😐 Solo nomad: Menlo Park, CA is 23% more expensive than North Charleston, SC without rent, and 36.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Menlo Park, CA is 0.4% cheaper than North Charleston, SC without rent, and 100.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.12 $30.12
$18.33 $18.33
64.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 $89.6
$84.8 $84.8
5.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$10.17 $10.17
18.58%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$6.29 $6.29
-24.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.52 $2.52
5.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.33 $2.33
-41.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 $8.11
$5.89 $5.89
37.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95 $7.95
$8.15 $8.15
-2.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.02 $1.02
39.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.81 $4.81
$3.99 $3.99
20.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.21 $3.21
-1.56%
Eggs
$6.82 $6.82
$3.68 $3.68
85.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 $10.96
$14.19 $14.19
-22.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$12.52 $12.52
-10.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$14.71 $14.71
-13.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$6.55 $6.55
-27.48%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.69 $1.69
27.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.5 $4.5
-4.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.8 $4.8
$5.55 $5.55
-13.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.8 $2.8
4.64%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.91 $2.91
19.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.07 $2.07
6.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.28 $2.28
20.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67 $8.67
$7.67 $7.67
13.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.93 $11.93
$15.46 $15.46
-22.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.84 $1.84
-8.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.63 $2.63
-10.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.42 $4.42
$3.57 $3.57
23.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30 $30
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.03 $3.03
13.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.46 $1.46
33.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.94 $29.94
$20.06 $20.06
49.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$0.8 $0.8
61.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$29.4K $29.4K
-18.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$24.9K $24.9K
4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$245 $245
$206 $206
18.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.63 $39.63
$65.2 $65.2
-39.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$71.5 $71.5
1.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.14 $43.14
$42.43 $42.43
1.67%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$11.76 $11.76
29.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,655 $2,655
$739 $739
259.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$37.2K $37.2K
$14.4K $14.4K
157.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 $55.3
$62.4 $62.4
-11.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$43.88 $43.88
-7.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90 $90
$94.7 $94.7
-4.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$141 $141
-43.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,224 $3,224
$1,937 $1,937
66.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,226 $2,226
$1,291 $1,291
72.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,146 $6,146
$1,942 $1,942
216.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,628 $6,628
$1,936 $1,936
242.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$21.9K $21.9K
$3,140 $3,140
596.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$16.4K $16.4K
$2,712 $2,712
505.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Menlo Park, CA
North Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,947 $4,947
$4,225 $4,225
17.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.49
0.92%

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

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for North Charleston, SC: October 29, 2025

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