What is the cost of living in Lexington, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lexington has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Lexington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Lexington ranks as #71 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Lexington ranks as the #27 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Lexington, check out:
Lexington Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lexington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lexington is 101.
The Groceries index in Lexington is 104.
The Health index in Lexington is 112.
The Housing index in Lexington is 99.
The Transportation index in Lexington is 105.
The Utilities index in Lexington is 92.
| Living Expense | Lexington | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 97 | 100 |
Lexington 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
Lexington, 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 Lexington is $303,204.
The Median Rent in Lexington is $1,545.
The Median Income in Lexington is $87,126.
The Home Value To Income in Lexington is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lexington is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Lexington | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $303,204 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,545 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,126 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lexington, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Lexington Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lexington | 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 Lexington Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lexington | 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 Lexington Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lexington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lexington Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lexington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lexington Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Lexington | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
Lexington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lexington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lexington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
St. Andrews, SC has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Lexington.
West Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Lexington.
Seven Oaks, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Lexington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Andrews, SC | 19,868 | 88 | 0.9x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Dentsville, SC | 15,209 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,741 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,256 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,813 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, SC | 11,314 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,530 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,465 | 94 | 0.9x |
