What is the cost of living in Berea, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Berea has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Berea has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Berea ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Berea ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Berea, check out:
Berea Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Berea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Berea is 103.
The Groceries index in Berea is 100.
The Health index in Berea is 72.
The Housing index in Berea is 98.
The Transportation index in Berea is 106.
The Utilities index in Berea is 101.
| Living Expense | Berea | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 72 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | 100 |
Berea 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
Berea, 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 Berea is $240,331.
The Median Rent in Berea is $1,076.
The Median Income in Berea is $49,829.
The Home Value To Income in Berea is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Berea is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Berea | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $240,331 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,076 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,829 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Berea, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Berea Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Berea | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.74 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Berea Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Berea | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.78 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.45 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Berea Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Berea | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.8 | $113.29 |
Detailed Berea Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Berea | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Berea Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Berea | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 |
Berea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Berea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Berea. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenville, SC has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x Berea.
Greer, SC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Berea.
Mauldin, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Berea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Berea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 72,935 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Greer, SC | 41,536 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Mauldin, SC | 27,055 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Simpsonville, SC | 26,144 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Easley, SC | 24,841 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Wade Hampton, SC | 20,898 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Five Forks, SC | 18,656 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Gantt, SC | 15,401 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Parker, SC | 12,898 | 88 | 1.0x |
