Before you decide to relocate to South Carolina, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in South Carolina that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 64 places in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in South Carolina for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Carolina For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in South Carolina? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Mount Pleasant is the most expensive place to live in South Carolina.
Chester (the cheapest place to live in South Carolina) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about South Carolina and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Carolina For 2026
/10
Population: 93,993
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $124,755
Average Home Price: $875,092
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x
More on Mount Pleasant: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Mount Pleasant is 142. The median income in Mount Pleasant comes in at $124,755 and the average home value is $875,092 for 2026.
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Population: 37,911
Cost Of Living Index: 137
Median Income: $94,657
Average Home Price: $787,678
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.3x
More on Hilton Head Island: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hilton Head Island is 137. The median income in Hilton Head Island comes in at $94,657 and the average home value is $787,678 for 2026.
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Population: 13,615
Cost Of Living Index: 131
Median Income: $142,000
Average Home Price: $611,048
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Tega Cay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Tega Cay is 131. The median income in Tega Cay comes in at $142,000 and the average home value is $611,048 for 2026.
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Population: 12,198
Cost Of Living Index: 127
Median Income: $104,217
Average Home Price: $597,130
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.7x
More on James Island: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in James Island is 127. The median income in James Island comes in at $104,217 and the average home value is $597,130 for 2026.
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Population: 10,871
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $78,365
Average Home Price: $426,444
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Hardeeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hardeeville is 125. The median income in Hardeeville comes in at $78,365 and the average home value is $426,444 for 2026.
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Population: 154,338
Cost Of Living Index: 121
Median Income: $92,414
Average Home Price: $589,607
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Charleston is 121. The median income in Charleston comes in at $92,414 and the average home value is $589,607 for 2026.
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Population: 33,157
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $111,281
Average Home Price: $498,492
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bluffton is 120. The median income in Bluffton comes in at $111,281 and the average home value is $498,492 for 2026.
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Population: 72,935
Cost Of Living Index: 118
Median Income: $71,472
Average Home Price: $327,592
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.6x
More on Greenville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Greenville is 118. The median income in Greenville comes in at $71,472 and the average home value is $327,592 for 2026.
/10
Population: 30,775
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $121,823
Average Home Price: $527,208
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Fort Mill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Fort Mill is 116. The median income in Fort Mill comes in at $121,823 and the average home value is $527,208 for 2026.
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Population: 5,731
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $94,167
Average Home Price: $340,026
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Blythewood: Data | Movers
The overall cost of living in Blythewood is 114. The median income in Blythewood comes in at $94,167 and the average home value is $340,026 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Palmetto State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in South Carolina are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in South Carolina to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 64 places in South Carolina that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in South Carolina according to the data is Mount Pleasant. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in South Carolina.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In South Carolina For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in South Carolina that have the highest cost of living, with Mount Pleasant ranking as the most expensive city in the Palmetto State.
The most expensive cities in South Carolina are Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Island, Tega Cay, James Island, Hardeeville, Charleston, Bluffton, Greenville, Fort Mill, and Blythewood.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in South Carolina according to the data:
- Chester
- Greenwood
- Union
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In South Carolina
Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Pleasant | 142 | 93,993 | $124,755 | $875,092 | 7.0x |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | 137 | 37,911 | $94,657 | $787,678 | 8.3x |
| 3 | Tega Cay | 131 | 13,615 | $142,000 | $611,048 | 4.3x |
| 4 | James Island | 127 | 12,198 | $104,217 | $597,130 | 5.7x |
| 5 | Hardeeville | 125 | 10,871 | $78,365 | $426,444 | 5.4x |
| 6 | Charleston | 121 | 154,338 | $92,414 | $589,607 | 6.4x |
| 7 | Bluffton | 120 | 33,157 | $111,281 | $498,492 | 4.5x |
| 8 | Greenville | 118 | 72,935 | $71,472 | $327,592 | 4.6x |
| 9 | Fort Mill | 116 | 30,775 | $121,823 | $527,208 | 4.3x |
| 10 | Blythewood | 114 | 5,731 | $94,167 | $340,026 | 3.6x |
| 11 | North Myrtle Beach | 113 | 19,855 | $72,722 | $390,621 | 5.4x |
| 12 | Clemson | 112 | 18,072 | $49,520 | $396,340 | 8.0x |
| 13 | Port Royal | 111 | 15,579 | $74,870 | $355,156 | 4.7x |
| 14 | Hanahan | 108 | 21,452 | $87,984 | $404,451 | 4.6x |
| 15 | Hollywood | 107 | 5,382 | $73,693 | $519,342 | 7.0x |
| 16 | Myrtle Beach | 106 | 38,371 | $60,394 | $320,925 | 5.3x |
| 17 | Beaufort | 105 | 13,747 | $61,220 | $412,455 | 6.7x |
| 18 | Goose Creek | 104 | 48,078 | $88,178 | $318,055 | 3.6x |
| 19 | Simpsonville | 104 | 26,144 | $82,457 | $377,969 | 4.6x |
| 20 | Summerville | 103 | 51,654 | $81,046 | $376,903 | 4.7x |
| 21 | Lexington | 102 | 24,585 | $87,126 | $303,204 | 3.5x |
| 22 | Travelers Rest | 102 | 8,370 | $54,583 | $353,915 | 6.5x |
| 23 | North Charleston | 101 | 119,913 | $62,956 | $309,521 | 4.9x |
| 24 | Moncks Corner | 101 | 15,485 | $91,500 | $360,390 | 3.9x |
| 25 | Columbia | 100 | 139,643 | $55,529 | $229,067 | 4.1x |
| 26 | Greer | 100 | 41,536 | $82,626 | $348,460 | 4.2x |
| 27 | Aiken | 100 | 32,521 | $76,746 | $272,072 | 3.5x |
| 28 | Forest Acres | 100 | 10,530 | $78,306 | $335,524 | 4.3x |
| 29 | Rock Hill | 99 | 75,259 | $68,771 | $326,184 | 4.7x |
| 30 | Mauldin | 98 | 27,055 | $82,331 | $297,318 | 3.6x |
| 31 | North Augusta | 98 | 25,653 | $86,092 | $265,723 | 3.1x |
| 32 | Irmo | 98 | 11,813 | $80,489 | $281,254 | 3.5x |
| 33 | Florence | 97 | 40,408 | $56,143 | $219,285 | 3.9x |
| 34 | Clover | 97 | 7,234 | $85,450 | $413,527 | 4.8x |
| 35 | Easley | 96 | 24,841 | $66,299 | $315,979 | 4.8x |
| 36 | Camden | 96 | 8,267 | $63,576 | $237,602 | 3.7x |
| 37 | West Columbia | 95 | 17,963 | $56,912 | $226,049 | 4.0x |
| 38 | Lancaster | 95 | 8,921 | $46,311 | $291,062 | 6.3x |
| 39 | Lyman | 95 | 6,547 | $75,653 | $303,650 | 4.0x |
| 40 | Conway | 94 | 27,263 | $56,650 | $286,177 | 5.1x |
| 41 | Cayce | 94 | 13,741 | $62,045 | $210,164 | 3.4x |
| 42 | Sumter | 93 | 43,053 | $55,592 | $213,462 | 3.8x |
| 43 | Fountain Inn | 93 | 12,020 | $73,585 | $305,625 | 4.2x |
| 44 | Seneca | 93 | 8,993 | $52,022 | $304,236 | 5.8x |
| 45 | Georgetown | 93 | 8,565 | $56,981 | $250,504 | 4.4x |
| 46 | Anderson | 92 | 30,051 | $46,933 | $272,108 | 5.8x |
| 47 | Hartsville | 92 | 7,419 | $49,272 | $179,198 | 3.6x |
| 48 | Central | 92 | 5,320 | $60,258 | $284,220 | 4.7x |
| 49 | Spartanburg | 91 | 38,910 | $51,964 | $233,686 | 4.5x |
| 50 | Orangeburg | 91 | 13,253 | $38,635 | $162,436 | 4.2x |
| 51 | Newberry | 90 | 10,790 | $51,260 | $166,454 | 3.2x |
| 52 | York | 90 | 8,969 | $56,176 | $356,168 | 6.3x |
| 53 | Darlington | 90 | 6,120 | $33,952 | $153,322 | 4.5x |
| 54 | Laurens | 89 | 9,336 | $49,246 | $180,131 | 3.7x |
| 55 | Dillon | 89 | 6,354 | $35,891 | $100,984 | 2.8x |
| 56 | Lake City | 88 | 5,988 | $33,600 | $126,633 | 3.8x |
| 57 | Marion | 87 | 6,206 | $30,662 | $145,562 | 4.7x |
| 58 | Walterboro | 87 | 5,480 | $56,457 | $210,403 | 3.7x |
| 59 | Gaffney | 86 | 12,596 | $41,089 | $185,840 | 4.5x |
| 60 | Bennettsville | 86 | 7,751 | $37,115 | $81,007 | 2.2x |
| 61 | Clinton | 86 | 7,676 | $44,522 | $163,865 | 3.7x |
| 62 | Union | 85 | 8,079 | $31,914 | $136,356 | 4.3x |
| 63 | Greenwood | 84 | 22,536 | $41,150 | $183,962 | 4.5x |
| 64 | Chester | 80 | 5,218 | $46,138 | $128,679 | 2.8x |