Clemson, SC Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Clemson, SC Summary

Cost of living in Clemson 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 Clemson 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 Clemson is 106, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Clemson is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Clemson ranks as the #78 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.

  • Clemson ranks as the #3,278 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Clemson is $404,882.

  • The median income in Clemson is $49,713.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
106
Clemson's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Clemson, SC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clemson has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Carolina, Clemson has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 93.

The standard of living in Clemson ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Clemson ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.

For more reading on life in Clemson, check out:

78 out of 99
In South Carolina
3,278 out of 6,489
In America

Clemson Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina

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

  • The Services index in Clemson is 104.

  • The Groceries index in Clemson is 97.

  • The Health index in Clemson is 102.

  • The Housing index in Clemson is 132.

  • The Transportation index in Clemson is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Clemson is 91.

Living Expense Clemson South Carolina National Average
Overall 106 93 100
Services 104 102 100
Groceries 97 97 100
Health 102 92 100
Housing 132 81 100
Transportation 91 92 100
Utilities 91 109 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
Clemson Cost of Living Vs. SC

Clemson, 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 Clemson is $404,882.

  • The Median Rent in Clemson is $972.

  • The Median Income in Clemson is $49,713.

  • The Home Value To Income in Clemson is 8.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Clemson is 0.23x.

Statistic Clemson South Carolina United States
Median Home Value $404,882 $302,294 $303,400
Median Rent $972 $1,126 $1,348
Median Income $49,713 $66,818 $78,538
Home Value To Income 8.1x 4.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.2x 0.21x
$404,882
Median Home Value
$972
Median Rent
$49,713
Median Income

Clemson, SC Costs By Category

Detailed Clemson Services Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Clemson 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 Clemson Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Clemson 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 Clemson Health Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Clemson South Carolina
Optometrist $120.21 $125.68
Doctor $123.75 $135.78
Dentist $114.8 $113.29

Detailed Clemson Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Clemson South Carolina
Gasoline $3.07 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.5 $59.92

Detailed Clemson Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Clemson South Carolina
All Electricity $170.53 $193.99
Phone $189.75 $192.25

Clemson SnackAbility

8
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
4
Diversity
8
Safety
7
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clemson

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

  • Anderson, SC has a cost of living index of 90, 0.8x Clemson.

  • Easley, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Clemson.

  • Powdersville, SC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Clemson.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Clemson
Anderson, SC 29,563 90 0.8x
Easley, SC 23,942 95 0.9x
Powdersville, SC 11,321 103 1.0x
Seneca, SC 8,910 90 0.8x
Homeland Park, SC 6,944 84 0.8x
Centerville, SC 6,860 92 0.9x
Central, SC 5,299 88 0.8x

Articles About South Carolina

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