What is the cost of living in Central, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Central has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Central has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Central ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Central ranks as the #72 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Central, check out:
Central Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Central. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Central is 102.
The Groceries index in Central is 97.
The Health index in Central is 67.
The Housing index in Central is 99.
The Transportation index in Central is 103.
The Utilities index in Central is 102.
| Living Expense | Central | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 97 | 100 |
Central 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
Central, 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 Central is $284,220.
The Median Rent in Central is $876.
The Median Income in Central is $60,258.
The Home Value To Income in Central is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Central is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Central | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $284,220 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $876 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,258 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Central, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Central Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Central | 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 Central Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Central | 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 Central Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Central | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.8 | $113.29 |
Detailed Central Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Central | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Central Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Central | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 |
Central SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Central
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Central. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbus, NE has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Central.
Seward, NE has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Central.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, NE | 24,488 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Seward, NE | 7,678 | 95 | 1.0x |
