What is the cost of living in Darlington, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Darlington has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Darlington has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Darlington ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Darlington ranks as the #82 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Darlington, check out:
Darlington Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Darlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Darlington is 100.
The Groceries index in Darlington is 101.
The Health index in Darlington is 67.
The Housing index in Darlington is 100.
The Transportation index in Darlington is 103.
The Utilities index in Darlington is 98.
| Living Expense | Darlington | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Darlington 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
Darlington, 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 Darlington is $153,322.
The Median Rent in Darlington is $840.
The Median Income in Darlington is $33,952.
The Home Value To Income in Darlington is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Darlington is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Darlington | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $153,322 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $840 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $33,952 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Darlington, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Darlington Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Darlington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Darlington Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Darlington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.35 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Darlington Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Darlington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Darlington Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Darlington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Darlington Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Darlington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
Darlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Darlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Darlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sumter, SC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Darlington.
Florence, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Darlington.
Laurinburg, NC has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Darlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Darlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter, SC | 43,053 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Florence, SC | 40,408 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Laurinburg, NC | 15,087 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Lugoff, SC | 9,786 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Camden, SC | 8,267 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Bennettsville, SC | 7,751 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Hartsville, SC | 7,419 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Marion, SC | 6,206 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Hamlet, NC | 5,961 | 87 | 1.0x |
