What is the cost of living in Charleston, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Charleston has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Charleston has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Charleston ranks as #90 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Charleston ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Charleston, check out:
Charleston Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Charleston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Charleston is 98.
The Groceries index in Charleston is 101.
The Health index in Charleston is 175.
The Housing index in Charleston is 94.
The Transportation index in Charleston is 101.
The Utilities index in Charleston is 104.
| Living Expense | Charleston | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 175 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 97 | 100 |
Charleston 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
Charleston, 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 Charleston is $589,607.
The Median Rent in Charleston is $1,722.
The Median Income in Charleston is $92,414.
The Home Value To Income in Charleston is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Charleston is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $589,607 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,722 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $92,414 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Charleston, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Charleston Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed Charleston Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Charleston Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Charleston Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed Charleston Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
Charleston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Charleston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Charleston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
North Charleston, SC has a cost of living index of 101, 0.8x Charleston.
Mount Pleasant, SC has a cost of living index of 142, 1.2x Charleston.
Summerville, SC has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Charleston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC | 119,913 | 101 | 0.8x |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 93,993 | 142 | 1.2x |
| Summerville, SC | 51,654 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Goose Creek, SC | 48,078 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,452 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Ladson, SC | 16,140 | 101 | 0.8x |
| James Island, SC | 12,198 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Sangaree, SC | 8,681 | 100 | 0.8x |
| Hollywood, SC | 5,382 | 107 | 0.9x |
