What is the cost of living in North Charleston, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Charleston has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, North Charleston has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in North Charleston ranks as #68 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies North Charleston ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in North Charleston, check out:
North Charleston Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Charleston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Charleston is 102.
The Groceries index in North Charleston is 100.
The Health index in North Charleston is 108.
The Housing index in North Charleston is 101.
The Transportation index in North Charleston is 101.
The Utilities index in North Charleston is 97.
| Living Expense | North Charleston | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 108 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 97 | 100 |
North Charleston 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
North Charleston, 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 North Charleston is $309,521.
The Median Rent in North Charleston is $1,430.
The Median Income in North Charleston is $62,956.
The Home Value To Income in North Charleston is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Charleston is 0.27x.
| Statistic | North Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $309,521 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,430 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,956 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
North Charleston, SC Costs By Category
Detailed North Charleston Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Charleston | 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 North Charleston Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Charleston | 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 North Charleston Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Charleston Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Charleston Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | North Charleston | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
North Charleston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Charleston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Charleston. 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, 1.2x North Charleston.
Mount Pleasant, SC has a cost of living index of 142, 1.4x North Charleston.
Summerville, SC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x North Charleston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 154,338 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 93,993 | 142 | 1.4x |
| Summerville, SC | 51,654 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Goose Creek, SC | 48,078 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Hanahan, SC | 21,452 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Ladson, SC | 16,140 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Moncks Corner, SC | 15,485 | 101 | 1.0x |
| James Island, SC | 12,198 | 127 | 1.3x |
| Sangaree, SC | 8,681 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Hollywood, SC | 5,382 | 107 | 1.1x |
