Hilton Head Island, SC Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Hilton Head Island, SC Summary

Cost of living in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island is 138, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hilton Head Island is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • Hilton Head Island ranks as the #98 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.

  • Hilton Head Island ranks as the #5,329 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hilton Head Island is $769,346.

  • The median income in Hilton Head Island is $96,715.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
138
Hilton Head Island's Overall Cost Of Living
1.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Hilton Head Island, SC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hilton Head Island has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Carolina, Hilton Head Island has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than South Carolina's index of 93.

The standard of living in Hilton Head Island ranks as #98 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Hilton Head Island ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.

For more reading on life in Hilton Head Island, check out:

98 out of 99
In South Carolina
5,329 out of 6,489
In America

Hilton Head Island Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina

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

  • The Services index in Hilton Head Island is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Hilton Head Island is 101.

  • The Health index in Hilton Head Island is 102.

  • The Housing index in Hilton Head Island is 226.

  • The Transportation index in Hilton Head Island is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Hilton Head Island is 93.

Living Expense Hilton Head Island South Carolina National Average
Overall 138 93 100
Services 102 102 100
Groceries 101 97 100
Health 102 92 100
Housing 226 81 100
Transportation 98 92 100
Utilities 93 109 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
Hilton Head Island Cost of Living Vs. SC

Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island is $769,346.

  • The Median Rent in Hilton Head Island is $1,518.

  • The Median Income in Hilton Head Island is $96,715.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hilton Head Island is 8.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hilton Head Island is 0.19x.

Statistic Hilton Head Island South Carolina United States
Median Home Value $769,346 $302,294 $303,400
Median Rent $1,518 $1,126 $1,348
Median Income $96,715 $66,818 $78,538
Home Value To Income 8.0x 4.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$769,346
Median Home Value
$1,518
Median Rent
$96,715
Median Income

Hilton Head Island, SC Costs By Category

Detailed Hilton Head Island Services Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Hilton Head Island South Carolina
Shampoo $1.21 $1.28
Movie $10.5 $12.13
Bowling $22.67 $18
Haircut $26.56 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.61 $45.56

Detailed Hilton Head Island Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Hilton Head Island South Carolina
Ground Beef $5.79 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.45 $1.57
Milk $4.6 $4.67
Potatoes $5.52 $4.93
Pizza $14.49 $12.09
Beer $10.68 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.5 $3.7

Detailed Hilton Head Island Health Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Hilton Head Island South Carolina
Optometrist $200.92 $125.68
Doctor $126.2 $135.78
Dentist $104.0 $113.29

Detailed Hilton Head Island Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Hilton Head Island South Carolina
Gasoline $3.24 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.17 $59.92

Detailed Hilton Head Island Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Hilton Head Island South Carolina
All Electricity $180.25 $193.99
Phone $190.25 $192.25

Hilton Head Island SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9
Affordability
6
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hilton Head Island

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

  • Bluffton, SC has a cost of living index of 123, 0.9x Hilton Head Island.

  • Port Royal, SC has a cost of living index of 111, 0.8x Hilton Head Island.

  • Wilmington Island, GA has a cost of living index of 110, 0.8x Hilton Head Island.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hilton Head Island
Bluffton, SC 31,323 123 0.9x
Port Royal, SC 15,047 111 0.8x
Wilmington Island, GA 14,457 110 0.8x
Beaufort, SC 13,660 107 0.8x
Hardeeville, SC 9,293 120 0.9x
Burton, SC 7,132 94 0.7x
Whitemarsh Island, GA 6,918 111 0.8x
Laurel Bay, SC 5,627 102 0.7x

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