What is the cost of living in Gaffney, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gaffney has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Gaffney has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Gaffney ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Gaffney ranks as the #92 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Gaffney, check out:
Gaffney Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gaffney. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gaffney is 98.
The Groceries index in Gaffney is 97.
The Health index in Gaffney is 64.
The Housing index in Gaffney is 96.
The Transportation index in Gaffney is 103.
The Utilities index in Gaffney is 97.
| Living Expense | Gaffney | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 64 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
Gaffney 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
Gaffney, 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 Gaffney is $185,840.
The Median Rent in Gaffney is $887.
The Median Income in Gaffney is $41,089.
The Home Value To Income in Gaffney is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gaffney is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Gaffney | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $185,840 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $887 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,089 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Gaffney, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Gaffney Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Gaffney | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.41 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.1 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.93 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gaffney Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Gaffney | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.46 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gaffney Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Gaffney | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $108.14 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.8 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gaffney Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Gaffney | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.1 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gaffney Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Gaffney | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $171.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.25 | $192.25 |
Gaffney SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gaffney
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gaffney. 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, 1.3x Gaffney.
Huntersville, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Gaffney.
Mauldin, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Gaffney.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gaffney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 108 | 1.3x |
| Huntersville, NC | 63,969 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Mauldin, SC | 27,055 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Simpsonville, SC | 26,144 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Wade Hampton, SC | 20,898 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Five Forks, SC | 18,656 | 126 | 1.5x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Tega Cay, SC | 13,615 | 131 | 1.5x |
| Marvin, NC | 6,692 | 183 | 2.1x |
