What is the cost of living in Orangeburg, SC?
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 92.
The standard of living in Orangeburg ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Orangeburg ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Orangeburg, check out:
Orangeburg Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Orangeburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Orangeburg is 101.
The Groceries index in Orangeburg is 100.
The Health index in Orangeburg is 65.
The Housing index in Orangeburg is 98.
The Transportation index in Orangeburg is 105.
The Utilities index in Orangeburg is 95.
| Living Expense | Orangeburg | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 65 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Orangeburg 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
Orangeburg, 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 Orangeburg is $162,436.
The Median Rent in Orangeburg is $848.
The Median Income in Orangeburg is $38,635.
The Home Value To Income in Orangeburg is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Orangeburg is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Orangeburg | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $162,436 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $848 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $38,635 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Orangeburg, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Orangeburg Services costs vs. South Carolina
| 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 |
Detailed Orangeburg Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| 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 |
Detailed Orangeburg Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Orangeburg Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Orangeburg Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Orangeburg | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
Orangeburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Orangeburg
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 100, 1.1x 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 | 32,521 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.1x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,741 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,256 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,813 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Red Bank, SC | 11,314 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,530 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,465 | 94 | 1.0x |
