Cost of living in Orangeburg research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Orangeburg is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in South Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Orangeburg is 91, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Orangeburg is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Orangeburg ranks as the #26 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.
Orangeburg ranks as the #1,347 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Orangeburg is $161,233.
The median income in Orangeburg is $33,066.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Orangeburg has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Orangeburg has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than South Carolina's index of 93.
The standard of living in Orangeburg ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Orangeburg ranks as the #73 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Orangeburg, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Orangeburg. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Orangeburg is 97.
The Groceries index in Orangeburg is 98.
The Health index in Orangeburg is 88.
The Housing index in Orangeburg is 60.
The Transportation index in Orangeburg is 80.
The Utilities index in Orangeburg is 132.
| Living Expense | Orangeburg | South Carolina | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 93 | 100 | |
| Services | 97 | 102 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 88 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 60 | 81 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 80 | 92 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 132 | 109 | 100 | |
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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Orangeburg is $161,233.
The Median Rent in Orangeburg is $765.
The Median Income in Orangeburg is $33,066.
The Home Value To Income in Orangeburg is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Orangeburg is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Orangeburg | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $161,233 | $302,294 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $765 | $1,126 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $33,066 | $66,818 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.5x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
| Item | Orangeburg | 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 |
| Item | Orangeburg | 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 |
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Orangeburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Aiken, SC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Orangeburg.
Lexington, SC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Orangeburg.
West Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Orangeburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Orangeburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken, SC | 32,334 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,132 | 102 | 1.1x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,723 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,990 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,718 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,031 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,799 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Red Bank, SC | 10,950 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,491 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,901 | 94 | 1.0x |