What is the cost of living in Laurel Bay, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laurel Bay has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Laurel Bay has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Laurel Bay ranks as #56 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Laurel Bay ranks as the #42 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Laurel Bay, check out:
Laurel Bay Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laurel Bay. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laurel Bay is 100.
The Groceries index in Laurel Bay is 94.
The Health index in Laurel Bay is 97.
The Housing index in Laurel Bay is 101.
The Transportation index in Laurel Bay is 104.
The Utilities index in Laurel Bay is 101.
| Living Expense | Laurel Bay | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 97 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | 100 |
Laurel Bay 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
Laurel Bay, 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 Laurel Bay is $272,148.
The Median Rent in Laurel Bay is $1,454.
The Median Income in Laurel Bay is $54,345.
The Home Value To Income in Laurel Bay is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laurel Bay is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Laurel Bay | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $272,148 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,454 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,345 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Laurel Bay, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Laurel Bay Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurel Bay | 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 Laurel Bay Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurel Bay | 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 Laurel Bay Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurel Bay | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $200.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $126.2 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $104.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Laurel Bay Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurel Bay | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.24 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Laurel Bay Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurel Bay | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.25 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.25 | $192.25 |
Laurel Bay SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laurel Bay
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laurel Bay. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost of living index of 137, 1.4x Laurel Bay.
Bluffton, SC has a cost of living index of 120, 1.2x Laurel Bay.
Port Royal, SC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Laurel Bay.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laurel Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 37,911 | 137 | 1.4x |
| Bluffton, SC | 33,157 | 120 | 1.2x |
| Port Royal, SC | 15,579 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Beaufort, SC | 13,747 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Hardeeville, SC | 10,871 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Burton, SC | 6,912 | 91 | 0.9x |
