What is the cost of living in Laurens, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laurens has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Laurens has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Laurens ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Laurens ranks as the #85 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Laurens, check out:
Laurens Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laurens. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laurens is 98.
The Groceries index in Laurens is 96.
The Health index in Laurens is 62.
The Housing index in Laurens is 95.
The Transportation index in Laurens is 100.
The Utilities index in Laurens is 94.
| Living Expense | Laurens | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 97 | 100 |
Laurens 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
Laurens, 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 Laurens is $180,131.
The Median Rent in Laurens is $833.
The Median Income in Laurens is $49,246.
The Home Value To Income in Laurens is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laurens is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Laurens | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $180,131 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $833 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,246 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Laurens, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Laurens Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurens | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.15 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.41 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.1 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.93 | $45.56 |
Detailed Laurens Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurens | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.46 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Laurens Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurens | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $108.14 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.8 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Laurens Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurens | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.1 | $59.92 |
Detailed Laurens Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Laurens | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $171.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.25 | $192.25 |
Laurens SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laurens
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laurens. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mauldin, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Laurens.
Simpsonville, SC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Laurens.
Easley, SC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Laurens.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laurens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauldin, SC | 27,055 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Simpsonville, SC | 26,144 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Easley, SC | 24,841 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Wade Hampton, SC | 20,898 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Five Forks, SC | 18,656 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Clemson, SC | 18,072 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Boiling Springs, SC | 12,936 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Powdersville, SC | 10,771 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Clinton, SC | 7,676 | 86 | 1.0x |
