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Cost of Living · South Carolina

Charleston Cost of Living

Charleston, South Carolina costs approximately 2.0% above the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

1.02×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Charleston ranks 1 of 1 cities in South Carolina by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Charleston (32)
San Francisco, CA
+42.2% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+32.4% more expensive
New York City, NY
+29.4% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+27.5% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+27.5% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+19.6% more expensive
Boston, MA
+19.6% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+18.6% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+17.6% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+17.6% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+15.7% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+15.7% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+15.7% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+15.7% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+12.7% more expensive
Miami, FL
+9.8% more expensive
Portland, OR
+7.8% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+7.8% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+7.8% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+7.8% more expensive
Denver, CO
+5.9% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+2.9% more expensive
Austin, TX
+2.9% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+2.9% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+2.9% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+2.9% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+2.9% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+2.9% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+2.0% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+2.0% more expensive
Plano, TX
+2.0% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+2.0% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Charleston (59)
Orlando, FL
−1.0% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−2.0% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−2.0% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−2.0% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−2.0% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−2.0% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−2.0% cheaper
Boise, ID
−2.0% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−2.0% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−2.0% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−2.9% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−2.9% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−2.9% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−2.9% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−2.9% cheaper
Madison, WI
−2.9% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−3.9% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−4.9% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−4.9% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−4.9% cheaper
Houston, TX
−5.9% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−5.9% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−5.9% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−5.9% cheaper
Garland, TX
−5.9% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−5.9% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−6.9% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−6.9% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−6.9% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−7.8% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−7.8% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−7.8% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−8.8% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−8.8% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−9.8% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−9.8% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−9.8% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−9.8% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−9.8% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−9.8% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−9.8% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−9.8% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−9.8% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−10.8% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−10.8% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−10.8% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−10.8% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−11.8% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−11.8% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−11.8% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−12.7% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−12.7% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−12.7% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−13.7% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−13.7% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−13.7% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−15.7% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−15.7% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−15.7% cheaper

What living in Charleston costs

Charleston runs at 1.02x the US national average — 32 of the 99 other metros tracked here cost more, 59 cost less. A one-bedroom goes for about $1,650 a month, or $19,800 a year, and the median home sits near $470,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 24, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Charleston is a metro of roughly 0.8M and growing fast, running on aerospace manufacturing, tourism, port/logistics. Larger employers include Boeing South Carolina (787 assembly), Joint Base Charleston, MUSC Health.

South Carolina taxes income at the state level, and Charleston adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Charleston is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Humid subtropical coastal: January highs near 59°F/lows 40°F, July highs near 90°F/lows 74°F, humid with real hurricane exposure June-November.

No local income tax, but coastal flooding and hurricane/storm-surge risk are material relocation factors — parts of the peninsula flood during routine high tides.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charleston expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, roughly average — the cost index is 1.02x, above 59 and below 32 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,650 a month and the median home $470,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Charleston?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,650 a month implies about $66,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.