What is the cost of living in James Island, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, James Island has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, James Island has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in James Island ranks as #95 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies James Island ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in James Island, check out:
James Island Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in James Island. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in James Island is 101.
The Groceries index in James Island is 102.
The Health index in James Island is 186.
The Housing index in James Island is 97.
The Transportation index in James Island is 101.
The Utilities index in James Island is 101.
| Living Expense | James Island | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 127 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 186 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | 100 |
James Island 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
James 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in James Island is $597,130.
The Median Rent in James Island is $1,695.
The Median Income in James Island is $104,217.
The Home Value To Income in James Island is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in James Island is 0.2x.
| Statistic | James Island | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $597,130 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,695 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $104,217 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
James Island, SC Costs By Category
Detailed James Island Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | James Island | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed James Island Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | James Island | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed James Island Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | James Island | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed James Island Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | James Island | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed James Island Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | James Island | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
James Island SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around James Island
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around James Island. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charleston, SC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x James Island.
North Charleston, SC has a cost of living index of 101, 0.8x James Island.
Mount Pleasant, SC has a cost of living index of 142, 1.1x James Island.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. James Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 154,338 | 121 | 1.0x |
| North Charleston, SC | 119,913 | 101 | 0.8x |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 93,993 | 142 | 1.1x |
| Goose Creek, SC | 48,078 | 104 | 0.8x |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,452 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Hollywood, SC | 5,382 | 107 | 0.8x |
