Bluffton, SC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Bluffton, SC Summary

Cost of living in Bluffton 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 Bluffton 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 Bluffton is 123, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Bluffton is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Bluffton ranks as the #93 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.

  • Bluffton ranks as the #4,598 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bluffton is $500,469.

  • The median income in Bluffton is $105,463.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
123
Bluffton's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bluffton, SC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bluffton has an overall cost of living index of 123, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Carolina, Bluffton has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than South Carolina's index of 93.

The standard of living in Bluffton ranks as #93 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Bluffton ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.

For more reading on life in Bluffton, check out:

93 out of 99
In South Carolina
4,598 out of 6,489
In America

Bluffton Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bluffton. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Bluffton is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Bluffton is 97.

  • The Health index in Bluffton is 103.

  • The Housing index in Bluffton is 168.

  • The Transportation index in Bluffton is 96.

  • The Utilities index in Bluffton is 93.

Living Expense Bluffton South Carolina National Average
Overall 123 93 100
Services 105 102 100
Groceries 97 97 100
Health 103 92 100
Housing 168 81 100
Transportation 96 92 100
Utilities 93 109 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
Bluffton Cost of Living Vs. SC

Bluffton, 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 Bluffton is $500,469.

  • The Median Rent in Bluffton is $2,187.

  • The Median Income in Bluffton is $105,463.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bluffton is 4.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bluffton is 0.25x.

Statistic Bluffton South Carolina United States
Median Home Value $500,469 $302,294 $303,400
Median Rent $2,187 $1,126 $1,348
Median Income $105,463 $66,818 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.7x 4.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.2x 0.21x
$500,469
Median Home Value
$2,187
Median Rent
$105,463
Median Income

Bluffton, SC Costs By Category

Detailed Bluffton Services Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Bluffton 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 Bluffton Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Bluffton 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 Bluffton Health Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Bluffton South Carolina
Optometrist $200.92 $125.68
Doctor $126.2 $135.78
Dentist $104.0 $113.29

Detailed Bluffton Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Bluffton South Carolina
Gasoline $3.24 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.17 $59.92

Detailed Bluffton Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Bluffton South Carolina
All Electricity $180.25 $193.99
Phone $190.25 $192.25

Bluffton SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
9
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
8.5
Amenities
7
Education
9
Commute
7

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bluffton

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bluffton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Savannah, GA has a cost of living index of 95, 0.8x Bluffton.

  • Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost of living index of 138, 1.1x Bluffton.

  • Port Royal, SC has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Bluffton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Bluffton
Savannah, GA 147,546 95 0.8x
Hilton Head Island, SC 37,805 138 1.1x
Port Royal, SC 15,047 111 0.9x
Wilmington Island, GA 14,457 110 0.9x
Port Wentworth, GA 11,997 103 0.8x
Hardeeville, SC 9,293 120 1.0x
Skidaway Island, GA 8,907 143 1.2x
Burton, SC 7,132 94 0.8x
Whitemarsh Island, GA 6,918 111 0.9x
Laurel Bay, SC 5,627 102 0.8x

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