Cost of Living Comparison Between Pensacola, FL and Spartanburg, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Pensacola, FL and Spartanburg, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,676 in Pensacola, FL versus $2,256 in Spartanburg, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,826 in Pensacola, FL versus $3,391 in Spartanburg, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,975 in Pensacola, FL versus $4,527 in Spartanburg, SC.

Living in Pensacola, FL is roughly 19% more expensive than in Spartanburg, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pensacola, FL 95% above, Spartanburg, SC 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.89 $19.89

$17.15 $17.15

15.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.4 $57.4

$60.3 $60.3

-4.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.79 $11.79

$9.95 $9.95

18.49%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.65 $5.65

-9.56%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.23 $2.23

29.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.36 $2.36

-10.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.04 $5.04

12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.40 $8.40

$6.94 $6.94

21.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.01 $1.01

-16.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.52 $3.52

1.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$5.42 $5.42

-49.08%

Eggs

$3.13 $3.13

$3.63 $3.63

-13.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 $9.42

$13.15 $13.15

-28.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$12.64 $12.64

-7.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$16.31 $16.31

-13.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.21 $3.21

22.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.40 $2.40

-39.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.80 $3.80

-27.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.22 $5.22

-16.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.63 $2.63

20.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.55 $3.55

-23.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.28 $2.28

-3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.98 $2.98

-27.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.08 $9.08

$9.19 $9.19

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.75 $12.75

$16.46 $16.46

-22.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$6.93 $6.93

-49.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.11 $43.11

$119 $119

-63.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.75 $25.75

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.81 $0.81

13.58%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$34.7K $34.7K

3.60%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.5K $26.5K

-2.44%

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

$308 $308

$172 $172

79.14%

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

$49.98 $49.98

$94.6 $94.6

-47.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.1 $71.1

$62.4 $62.4

14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.93 $28.93

$26.42 $26.42

9.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.12 $18.12

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$12.09 $12.09

8.68%

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

$623 $623

$945 $945

-34.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K $13.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.32 $48.32

$41.56 $41.56

16.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.62 $40.62

$35.51 $35.51

14.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$80.0 $80.0

4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.9 $96.9

$120 $120

-19.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,694 $1,694

$1,233 $1,233

37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 $1,301

$939 $939

38.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,707 $2,707

$2,149 $2,149

25.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,134 $2,134

$1,583 $1,583

34.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,834 $3,834

$1,765 $1,765

117.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,104 $2,104

$1,815 $1,815

15.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,660 $3,660

$3,425 $3,425

6.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

-11.29%

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

Last update for Pensacola, FL: August 30, 2026

Last update for Spartanburg, SC: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,694 in Pensacola, FL and $1,233 in Spartanburg, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pensacola, FL pays 7% 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: $57.0 in Pensacola, FL vs $60.0 in Spartanburg, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $411 per month, with Pensacola, FL cheaper across the board.

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

Pensacola, FL vs Spartanburg, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Spartanburg, SC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% higher in Pensacola, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,694 in Pensacola, FL versus $1,233 in Spartanburg, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pensacola, FL pay roughly 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Spartanburg, SC – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $57.0 in Pensacola, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,256 in Spartanburg, SC versus $2,676 in Pensacola, FL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Spartanburg, SC but tight or insufficient in Pensacola, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Spartanburg, 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.

Expats usually find Spartanburg, SC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Pensacola, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.