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 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Aiken has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Aiken ranks as #64 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Aiken ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Aiken, check out:
Aiken Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Aiken. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Aiken is 102.
The Groceries index in Aiken is 96.
The Health index in Aiken is 104.
The Housing index in Aiken is 102.
The Transportation index in Aiken is 99.
The Utilities index in Aiken is 97.
| Living Expense | Aiken | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 104 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
Aiken Cost Of Living Compared To South Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina
- Average Rent In South Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Aiken is $272,072.
The Median Rent in Aiken is $1,180.
The Median Income in Aiken is $76,746.
The Home Value To Income in Aiken is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Aiken is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Aiken | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $272,072 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,180 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $76,746 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 114, 1.1x Aiken.
Martinez, GA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Aiken.
North Augusta, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Aiken.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Aiken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evans, GA | 36,998 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Martinez, GA | 33,750 | 97 | 1.0x |
| North Augusta, SC | 25,653 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.0x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Grovetown, GA | 17,014 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,256 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,813 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, SC | 11,314 | 93 | 0.9x |
