What is the cost of living in Chester, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chester has an overall cost of living index of 80, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Chester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Chester ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Chester ranks as the #97 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Chester, check out:
Chester Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chester is 98.
The Groceries index in Chester is 100.
The Health index in Chester is 43.
The Housing index in Chester is 100.
The Transportation index in Chester is 104.
The Utilities index in Chester is 98.
| Living Expense | Chester | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 43 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Chester 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
Chester, 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 Chester is $128,679.
The Median Rent in Chester is $902.
The Median Income in Chester is $46,138.
The Home Value To Income in Chester is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chester is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Chester | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $128,679 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $902 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,138 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Chester, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Chester Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Chester | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chester Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Chester | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chester Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Chester | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chester Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Chester | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chester Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Chester | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Chester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charlotte, NC has a cost of living index of 108, 1.4x Chester.
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.4x Chester.
Matthews, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.5x Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 108 | 1.4x |
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 1.4x |
| Matthews, NC | 30,577 | 117 | 1.5x |
| Mint Hill, NC | 27,556 | 111 | 1.4x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.3x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.4x |
| Weddington, NC | 13,805 | 146 | 1.8x |
| Wesley Chapel, NC | 9,090 | 127 | 1.6x |
| Unionville, NC | 6,954 | 104 | 1.3x |
| Marvin, NC | 6,692 | 183 | 2.3x |
