Aiken, SC Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Aiken, SC Summary
Cost of living in Aiken research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Aiken is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in South Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Aiken is 93, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Aiken is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Aiken ranks as the #35 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.
Aiken ranks as the #1,658 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Aiken is $264,255.
The median income in Aiken is $69,837.
Table Of Contents
Aiken's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Aiken, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Aiken has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Aiken has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 93.
The standard of living in Aiken ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Aiken ranks as the #64 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Aiken, check out:
In South Carolina
In America
Aiken Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Aiken. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Aiken is 90.
The Groceries index in Aiken is 95.
The Health index in Aiken is 82.
The Housing index in Aiken is 104.
The Transportation index in Aiken is 87.
The Utilities index in Aiken is 84.
| Living Expense | Aiken | South Carolina | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 93 | 100 | |
| Services | 90 | 102 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 82 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 104 | 81 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 87 | 92 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 84 | 109 | 100 | |
Aiken, SC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Aiken is $264,255.
The Median Rent in Aiken is $1,199.
The Median Income in Aiken is $69,837.
The Home Value To Income in Aiken is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Aiken is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Aiken | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $264,255 | $302,294 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,199 | $1,126 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $69,837 | $66,818 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.5x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Aiken, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Aiken Services Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | Aiken | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.13 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.61 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.92 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.5 | $45.56 |
Detailed Aiken Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | Aiken | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.52 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.53 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.41 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.16 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.06 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Aiken Health Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | Aiken | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $69.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $179.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $199.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Aiken Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | Aiken | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.24 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Aiken Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | Aiken | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $149.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.47 | $192.25 |
Aiken SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Aiken
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Aiken. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Evans, GA has a cost of living index of 109, 1.2x Aiken.
Martinez, GA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Aiken.
North Augusta, SC has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Aiken.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Aiken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evans, GA | 37,718 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Martinez, GA | 33,019 | 93 | 1.0x |
| North Augusta, SC | 24,928 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,132 | 102 | 1.1x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,723 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Grovetown, GA | 16,516 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,990 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,031 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,799 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, SC | 10,950 | 94 | 1.0x |
