What is the cost of living in Mount Pleasant, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mount Pleasant has an overall cost of living index of 142, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Mount Pleasant has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Mount Pleasant ranks as #98 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Mount Pleasant ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Mount Pleasant, check out:
Mount Pleasant Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mount Pleasant. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mount Pleasant is 96.
The Groceries index in Mount Pleasant is 100.
The Health index in Mount Pleasant is 238.
The Housing index in Mount Pleasant is 101.
The Transportation index in Mount Pleasant is 99.
The Utilities index in Mount Pleasant is 95.
| Living Expense | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 142 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 238 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Mount Pleasant 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
Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant is $875,092.
The Median Rent in Mount Pleasant is $2,159.
The Median Income in Mount Pleasant is $124,755.
The Home Value To Income in Mount Pleasant is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mount Pleasant is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $875,092 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,159 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $124,755 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Mount Pleasant, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Mount Pleasant Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mount Pleasant Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mount Pleasant Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mount Pleasant Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mount Pleasant Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
Mount Pleasant SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mount Pleasant
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mount Pleasant. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charleston, SC has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Mount Pleasant.
North Charleston, SC has a cost of living index of 101, 0.7x Mount Pleasant.
Goose Creek, SC has a cost of living index of 104, 0.7x Mount Pleasant.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mount Pleasant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 154,338 | 121 | 0.9x |
| North Charleston, SC | 119,913 | 101 | 0.7x |
| Goose Creek, SC | 48,078 | 104 | 0.7x |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,452 | 108 | 0.8x |
| Ladson, SC | 16,140 | 101 | 0.7x |
| James Island, SC | 12,198 | 127 | 0.9x |
