What is the cost of living in Lake Wylie, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Wylie has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Lake Wylie has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Lake Wylie ranks as #90 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Lake Wylie ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Lake Wylie, check out:
Lake Wylie Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Wylie. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Wylie is 94.
The Groceries index in Lake Wylie is 97.
The Health index in Lake Wylie is 170.
The Housing index in Lake Wylie is 99.
The Transportation index in Lake Wylie is 104.
The Utilities index in Lake Wylie is 100.
| Living Expense | Lake Wylie | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 170 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 97 | 100 |
Lake Wylie 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 Wylie, 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 Wylie is $570,127.
The Median Rent in Lake Wylie is $1,710.
The Median Income in Lake Wylie is $112,097.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Wylie is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Wylie is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Lake Wylie | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $570,127 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,710 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $112,097 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lake Wylie, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Wylie Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake Wylie | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lake Wylie Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake Wylie | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lake Wylie Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake Wylie | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Wylie Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake Wylie | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Wylie Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lake Wylie | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Lake Wylie SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Wylie
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Wylie. 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, 0.9x Lake Wylie.
Gastonia, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 0.8x Lake Wylie.
Rock Hill, SC has a cost of living index of 99, 0.8x Lake Wylie.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Wylie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Gastonia, NC | 82,884 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Rock Hill, SC | 75,259 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Fort Mill, SC | 30,775 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Mount Holly, NC | 18,208 | 97 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, NC | 15,546 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Weddington, NC | 13,805 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Tega Cay, SC | 13,615 | 131 | 1.1x |
| Kings Mountain, NC | 12,039 | 93 | 0.8x |
| Pineville, NC | 11,055 | 110 | 0.9x |








