The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina In 2024


The most affordable places to live in South Carolina for 2024 are Gaffney, Laurens, and Greenwood according to Saturday Night Science.

You’re in luck if you’re looking for the cheapest locales to live in South Carolina.

The most affordable places in South Carolina offer more than low prices. They have convenient access to Charleston for a chilling ghost tour or a thrilling Gamecocks football game in Columbia. The low cost of real estate in South Carolina allows easy access to the state’s beaches, mountains, and palmetto trees without breaking your bank account.

We used Saturday Night Science and Census data to look at housing costs relative to incomes for every place in the Palmetto State. Here’s what we found.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary


The 10 most affordable places to live in South Carolina

  1. Gaffney
  2. Laurens
  3. Greenwood
  4. Union
  5. Clinton
  6. North Augusta
  7. Bennettsville
  8. Chester
  9. Cheraw
  10. Lake City

Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina Map

What is the cheapest place to live in South Carolina? The cheapest place to live in South Carolina is Gaffney based on recent cost of living statistics.

If you are looking for a cheap place in a suburban area outside of Greenville, one of the best cities in South Carolina, Fountain Inn and Mauldin are waiting for you.

Check out some more reading about South Carolina and the cheapest places in the country:

The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina For 2024

Gaffney, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Bill Fitzpatrick | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 12,651
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $38,059
Median Home Price: $160,274
Median Rent: $837

Taking home the name of the cheapest city in South Carolina is Gaffney. Located an hour southwest of Charlotte, the city has an overall cost of living index of 83. The cost of living is 10.8% lower than the South Carolina average.

Locally known as home to The Peachoid, Gaffney has plenty of affordable things for the whole family to do.

More on Gaffney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Laurens, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 9,276
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $52,585
Median Home Price: $147,919
Median Rent: $741

Have you heard? Laurens is South Carolina’s second most affordable city and the “Gateway to the Upstate” shows no signs of slowing down.

Laurens moved up four places from last year due to its fifth best place to buy a home based on the city’s median income ranking. The amenities in Laurens are also not too shabby. Yes, if you haven’t spent the day exploring the Laurens Historic District or taken in their Riverfront Freedom Festival then you have some work to do.

More on Laurens: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Greenwood, SC

Source: Wikipedia User change-of-venue from Greenville, South Carolina, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 22,528
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $38,884
Median Home Price: $169,336
Median Rent: $793

Greenwood, located in northwest South Carolina in Greenwood County, offers a cost-effective lifestyle with a $169,336 average home price and a $793 average rank. It’s ranked as the state’s third most affordable city.

The overall cost of living index of 84 supports cheap index values for utilities, services, and healthcare.

More on Greenwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Union, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,099
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $32,548
Median Home Price: $108,743
Median Rent: $773

The county seat of Union County in the northern part of the state, Union ranks as the fourth cheapest place to live in South Carolina. Union enjoys a median rent of just $773, so anyone can afford to give this spot a try.

Homes in Union have a median price of $108,743, which is the fourth least expensive you can find in South Carolina. The overall cost of living in Union is only slightly lower than the South Carolina average, but in terms of housing, Union is 40% cheaper than the rest of the state.

For fans of American history, the Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site offers a rare glimpse at South Carolina’s history in one of the best-preserved plantation homes from the era. There are also short, well-maintained hiking trails in the area if you’re just looking for a place to get outdoors.

More on Union: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Clinton, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Brian Stansberry | CC BY 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,624
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $38,350
Median Home Price: $126,502
Median Rent: $829

Next on our list is another western South Carolina city between Greenville and Columbia — Clinton. Clinton has a manageable 85 overall cost of living index that is 8 points lower than the state average.

Clinton is very close to the Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests for a weekend activity that won’t break the bank.

More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

North Augusta, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 24,425
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $85,093
Median Home Price: $235,984
Median Rent: $969

Located on the north bank of the Savannah River, North Augusta is not only the sixth most affordable city in South Carolina, it is the epitome of southern hospitality with a pinch of southern charm. The best part of this deal, you won’t have to win the South Carolina lottery to get your hands on home in North Augusta because “The Riverfront” is the fourth best place to buy a home based on the city’s median income.

More on North Augusta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Bennettsville, SC

Source: Flickr User MikeKalasnik | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 6,975
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $37,891
Median Home Price: $84,777
Median Rent: $643

No, not everything is free in the 843, but it is super affordable-like, the seventh cheapest place to live in South Carolina affordable. But, that’s not all that makes this city of 6,975 residents from Marlboro County so great. Bennettsville shines because the median income here is $37,891 and the median home price is only $84,777.

And, folks, it doesn’t hurt that this South Carolina gem is also located on the Great Peed Dee River.

More on Bennettsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Chester, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,260
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $39,951
Median Home Price: $142,891
Median Rent: $756

Located in Chester County south of Charlotte, Chester is the the eighth least expensive city in the Palmetto State. The city’s cost of living index is 86. The average home price is the tenth lowest in the state at $142,891, according to Zillow.

The money you save on housing in Chester can go towards better ingredients for pimento cheese or BBQ on the weekends.

More on Chester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Review Of Chester by HomeSnacks User

I live in Chester and its not a bad place, and there are plenty of things to do you just have to look

Cheraw, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 5,056
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $30,658
Median Home Price: $146,907
Median Rent: $819

Cheraw, one of the few places on the eastern half of South Carolina to make the list, came in ninth . The town’s average home price is $146,907 and rent is $819.

The area is home to several well-known golf courses and Matheson Memorial Library.

More on Cheraw: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Review Of Cheraw by HomeSnacks User

I am from Chesterfied and to say Cheraw is one of the worst places in the state to live is outrageous. The towns of Chesterfield and Cheraw may be rivals in sports but that’s where it stops with me. The historic downtown part is beautiful. It has many great people and great businesses! I have many friends and family members that live in Cheraw that will certainly agree with me.

Lake City, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Evanoco | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 6,080
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $37,013
Median Home Price: $113,134
Median Rent: $683

Coming in as the tenth most affordable place to call home is Lake City, a city of 6,080 about a half-hour south of Florence.

Sure, Lake City has a low cost of living, with things like healthcare, transportation, and services all costing less than your typical American city. But what really stands out in Lake City is the thriving community.

From the public art and horticulture that beautifies every corner of Lake City, to the seemingly endless string of events, to the spectacular dining and shopping downtown, there’s something for everyone in Lake City.

If you just want to give it a try to see how you like it, the median rent here is $683 — about 20% cheaper than the statewide average. If you like Lake City enough to make it your forever home, the median home price is $113,134.

More on Lake City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cheapest places to live in South Carolina FAQs

The county in South Carolina with the lowest cost of living is Abbeville County. The average living wage in Abbeville County is $78,818 according to MIT data. Abbeville County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to South Carolina as a whole. Childcare costs $9,273 a year in Abbeville County for two children compared to the South Carolina average of $10,594. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,148 per year in Abbeville County compared to $11,223 on average in South Carolina.

The cost of living in South Carolina is 6.6% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in South Carolina is $83,827 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a South Carolina household is $54,864.

The cheapest housing market in South Carolina is Chester. The average home value in Chester is $67,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in South Carolina is $170,100, almost 2.5 times higher than Chester.

Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Palmetto State for 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
Determining affordability for places in South Carolina boils down to how much it costs to live here.

You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.

With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for South Carolina using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:

  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Services
  • Groceries
  • Healthcare
  • Utilities

These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.

We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in South Carolina to figure out which is the least expensive.

The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 65 places in South Carolina that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.

The place in South Carolina with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Gaffney.

We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in South Carolina.

South Carolina Affordabilility Summary

This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in South Carolina for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in South Carolina.

The cheapest cities in South Carolina are Gaffney, Laurens, Greenwood, Union, Clinton, North Augusta, Bennettsville, Chester, Cheraw, and Lake City.

Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in South Carolina according to the data:

  1. Hilton Head Island
  2. Mount Pleasant
  3. Tega Cay

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina

Rank City Population Cost Of Living Index Median Income Home Prices Rent
1 Gaffney 12,651 83 $38,059 $160,274 $837
2 Laurens 9,276 83 $52,585 $147,919 $741
3 Greenwood 22,528 84 $38,884 $169,336 $793
4 Union 8,099 84 $32,548 $108,743 $773
5 Clinton 7,624 85 $38,350 $126,502 $829
6 North Augusta 24,425 86 $85,093 $235,984 $969
7 Bennettsville 6,975 86 $37,891 $84,777 $643
8 Chester 5,260 86 $39,951 $142,891 $756
9 Cheraw 5,056 86 $30,658 $146,907 $819
10 Lake City 6,080 87 $37,013 $113,134 $683
11 Anderson 29,345 88 $40,445 $247,118 $884
12 Lancaster 8,592 88 $37,714 $262,150 $775
13 Hartsville 7,450 88 $46,230 $156,598 $796
14 Darlington 6,172 88 $33,750 $123,699 $700
15 Lyman 6,099 88 $76,723 $289,160 $1,136
16 Central 5,272 88 $45,909 $247,449 $919
17 Spartanburg 38,301 89 $49,140 $209,990 $983
18 Aiken 32,014 89 $65,712 $248,666 $1,093
19 Georgetown 8,465 89 $50,000 $244,215 $801
20 Dillon 6,454 89 $34,086 $82,630 $681
21 Newberry 10,682 90 $47,565 $163,742 $882
22 Fountain Inn 10,675 90 $73,665 $280,678 $977
23 Travelers Rest 7,929 90 $44,375 $299,948 $1,015
24 Marion 6,402 90 $28,551 $90,130 $601
25 Walterboro 5,515 90 $46,119 $181,873 $713
26 Batesburg-Leesville 5,004 90 $49,807 $137,614 $820
27 Orangeburg 13,220 91 $29,340 $142,887 $722
28 Rock Hill 74,170 92 $60,807 $312,290 $1,193
29 Cayce 13,755 92 $56,976 $195,496 $1,246
30 Seneca 8,834 92 $48,108 $275,023 $757
31 Easley 23,135 93 $62,551 $298,368 $852
32 York 8,534 93 $50,177 $333,788 $810
33 North Charleston 115,755 94 $58,534 $292,239 $1,288
34 Florence 39,931 94 $56,031 $207,198 $868
35 Greer 37,010 94 $73,534 $327,385 $1,060
36 Conway 25,121 94 $48,161 $283,094 $883
37 Mauldin 25,267 95 $75,565 $282,107 $1,342
38 Moncks Corner 13,456 95 $83,079 $354,593 $1,129
39 Clover 6,800 95 $63,649 $392,293 $1,027
40 Sumter 43,046 96 $48,900 $179,925 $1,019
41 Simpsonville 24,133 96 $79,937 $360,596 $1,190
42 Camden 7,834 96 $54,141 $211,324 $771
43 Columbia 136,754 97 $54,095 $222,099 $1,105
44 West Columbia 17,459 97 $52,648 $211,731 $982
45 Irmo 11,685 97 $77,656 $271,045 $1,329
46 Myrtle Beach 36,064 98 $50,558 $301,360 $1,093
47 Summerville 50,839 99 $73,712 $370,371 $1,328
48 Clemson 17,557 99 $50,263 $363,229 $963
49 Goose Creek 45,858 100 $84,041 $309,585 $1,507
50 Beaufort 13,582 100 $60,366 $368,692 $1,016
51 Lexington 23,665 101 $78,164 $289,130 $1,270
52 Greenville 70,838 102 $65,519 $295,392 $1,173
53 Hanahan 20,731 102 $79,305 $384,391 $1,290
54 Forest Acres 10,514 102 $68,110 $291,080 $1,095
55 Hollywood 5,397 102 $77,191 $467,948 $870
56 Fort Mill 26,022 103 $128,125 $505,522 $1,325
57 Port Royal 14,573 104 $68,909 $326,136 $1,476
58 North Myrtle Beach 18,850 105 $69,792 $398,493 $1,263
59 James Island 11,689 106 $95,364 $552,752 $2,009
60 Charleston 149,960 111 $83,891 $530,719 $1,517
61 Bluffton 29,375 111 $99,575 $494,049 $2,050
62 Hardeeville 8,048 112 $75,948 $408,943 $1,392
63 Tega Cay 12,816 118 $140,172 $565,388 $1,253
64 Mount Pleasant 90,945 128 $115,167 $777,495 $1,901
65 Hilton Head Island 37,708 134 $93,694 $746,761 $1,563
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.