What is the cost of living in Forest Acres, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest Acres has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Forest Acres has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Forest Acres ranks as #64 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Forest Acres ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Forest Acres, check out:
Forest Acres Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest Acres. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest Acres is 99.
The Groceries index in Forest Acres is 100.
The Health index in Forest Acres is 107.
The Housing index in Forest Acres is 96.
The Transportation index in Forest Acres is 102.
The Utilities index in Forest Acres is 94.
| Living Expense | Forest Acres | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 107 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 97 | 100 |
Forest Acres 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
Forest Acres, 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 Forest Acres is $335,524.
The Median Rent in Forest Acres is $1,263.
The Median Income in Forest Acres is $78,306.
The Home Value To Income in Forest Acres is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest Acres is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Forest Acres | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $335,524 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,263 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $78,306 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Forest Acres, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Acres Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Forest Acres | 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 Forest Acres Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Forest Acres | 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 Forest Acres Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Forest Acres | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forest Acres Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Forest Acres | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forest Acres Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Forest Acres | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
Forest Acres SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest Acres
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest Acres. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Forest Acres.
Lexington, SC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Forest Acres.
St. Andrews, SC has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Forest Acres.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 139,643 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.0x |
| St. Andrews, SC | 19,868 | 88 | 0.9x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Dentsville, SC | 15,209 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,741 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,256 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,813 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, SC | 11,314 | 93 | 0.9x |
