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 120, 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 92.
The standard of living in Bluffton ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Bluffton ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Bluffton, check out:
Bluffton Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bluffton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bluffton is 97.
The Groceries index in Bluffton is 94.
The Health index in Bluffton is 171.
The Housing index in Bluffton is 100.
The Transportation index in Bluffton is 105.
The Utilities index in Bluffton is 101.
| Living Expense | Bluffton | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 171 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | 100 |
Bluffton 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Bluffton is $498,492.
The Median Rent in Bluffton is $2,256.
The Median Income in Bluffton is $111,281.
The Home Value To Income in Bluffton is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bluffton is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Bluffton | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $498,492 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,256 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $111,281 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 100, 0.8x Bluffton.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost of living index of 137, 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 | 147,898 | 100 | 0.8x |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 37,911 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Port Royal, SC | 15,579 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Wilmington Island, GA | 13,905 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Port Wentworth, GA | 12,892 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Hardeeville, SC | 10,871 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Skidaway Island, GA | 9,315 | 145 | 1.2x |
| Burton, SC | 6,912 | 91 | 0.8x |
| Whitemarsh Island, GA | 6,886 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Laurel Bay, SC | 5,882 | 98 | 0.8x |
