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

🙂 Solo nomad: North Charleston, SC is 13% cheaper than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: North Charleston, SC is 4.2% cheaper than Menlo Park, CA without rent, and 48.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.06 $18.06
$30.02 $30.02
-39.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.0 $86.0
$90.4 $90.4
-4.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 $10.06
$11.91 $11.91
-15.53%
Cappuccino
$6.22 $6.22
$4.74 $4.74
31.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.59 $2.59
0.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.29 $1.29
84.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$8.17 $8.17
-27.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.11 $8.11
$8.11 $8.11
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.46 $1.46
-30.82%
White Bread (500g)
$4.09 $4.09
$4.65 $4.65
-12.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$3.18 $3.18
-1.89%
Eggs
$3.85 $3.85
$6.60 $6.60
-41.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.07 $14.07
$10.83 $10.83
29.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.68 $12.68
$11.22 $11.22
13.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$12.62 $12.62
17.19%
Apples (1kg)
$6.53 $6.53
$4.70 $4.70
38.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.14 $2.14
-20.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$4.47 $4.47
2.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.51 $5.51
$5.05 $5.05
9.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.01 $3.01
-2.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.31 $3.31
-15.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.21 $2.21
-6.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.74 $2.74
-15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.71 $7.71
$8.60 $8.60
-10.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.52 $15.52
$11.81 $11.81
31.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.71 $1.71
7.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.40 $2.40
13.75%
🚌 Getting Around
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.52 $3.52
$4.63 $4.63
-23.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.31 $30.31
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.40 $3.40
-12.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.93 $1.93
-21.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.29 $20.29
$30.48 $30.48
-33.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.30 $1.30
-38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$24.3K $24.3K
22.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.4K $26.4K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$254 $254
-17.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.0 $64.0
$38.68 $38.68
65.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$70.2 $70.2
3.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.80 $43.80
$42.53 $42.53
2.99%
Cinema Ticket
$12.04 $12.04
$14.77 $14.77
-18.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$742 $742
$2,676 $2,676
-72.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$38.3K $38.3K
-62.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6 $61.6
$55.4 $55.4
11.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 $44.38
$40.10 $40.10
10.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 $94.2
$90.6 $90.6
3.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$79.2 $79.2
77.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,965 $1,965
$3,121 $3,121
-37.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 $1,281
$2,259 $2,259
-43.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,928 $1,928
$6,155 $6,155
-68.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,961 $1,961
$6,444 $6,444
-69.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,808 $2,808
$21.9K $21.9K
-87.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,834 $2,834
$15.9K $15.9K
-82.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Charleston, SC
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,327 $4,327
$4,982 $4,982
-13.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
6.55
-0.92%

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

Last update for North Charleston, SC: February 28, 2026

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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