What is the cost of living in Beaufort, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Beaufort has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Beaufort has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Beaufort ranks as #77 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Beaufort ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Beaufort, check out:
Beaufort Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Beaufort. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Beaufort is 97.
The Groceries index in Beaufort is 94.
The Health index in Beaufort is 118.
The Housing index in Beaufort is 99.
The Transportation index in Beaufort is 106.
The Utilities index in Beaufort is 100.
| Living Expense | Beaufort | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 118 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 97 | 100 |
Beaufort 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
Beaufort, 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 Beaufort is $412,455.
The Median Rent in Beaufort is $1,212.
The Median Income in Beaufort is $61,220.
The Home Value To Income in Beaufort is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Beaufort is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Beaufort | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $412,455 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,212 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,220 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Beaufort, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Beaufort Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Beaufort | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.21 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.56 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.61 | $45.56 |
Detailed Beaufort Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Beaufort | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.6 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.52 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.68 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.5 | $3.7 |
Detailed Beaufort Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Beaufort | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $200.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $126.2 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $104.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Beaufort Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Beaufort | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.24 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Beaufort Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Beaufort | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.25 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.25 | $192.25 |
Beaufort SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Beaufort
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Beaufort. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Summerville, SC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Beaufort.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost of living index of 137, 1.3x Beaufort.
Bluffton, SC has a cost of living index of 120, 1.1x Beaufort.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Beaufort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville, SC | 51,654 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 37,911 | 137 | 1.3x |
| Bluffton, SC | 33,157 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Pooler, GA | 28,466 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Richmond Hill, GA | 18,181 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Port Royal, SC | 15,579 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Wilmington Island, GA | 13,905 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Port Wentworth, GA | 12,892 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Georgetown, GA | 11,158 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Hardeeville, SC | 10,871 | 125 | 1.2x |
