What is the cost of living in Lake City, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake City has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Lake City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Lake City ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Lake City ranks as the #87 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Lake City, check out:
Lake City Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake City is 100.
The Groceries index in Lake City is 100.
The Health index in Lake City is 57.
The Housing index in Lake City is 102.
The Transportation index in Lake City is 102.
The Utilities index in Lake City is 98.
| Living Expense | Lake City | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 97 | 100 |
Lake City 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
Lake City, 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 Lake City is $126,633.
The Median Rent in Lake City is $702.
The Median Income in Lake City is $33,600.
The Home Value To Income in Lake City is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake City is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Lake City | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $126,633 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $702 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $33,600 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lake City, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Lake City Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake City | 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 Lake City Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake City | 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 Lake City Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake City | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake City Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake City | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake City Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake City | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
