What is the cost of living in Seneca, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Seneca has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Seneca has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Seneca ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Seneca ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Seneca, check out:
Seneca Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Seneca. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Seneca is 99.
The Groceries index in Seneca is 99.
The Health index in Seneca is 80.
The Housing index in Seneca is 98.
The Transportation index in Seneca is 106.
The Utilities index in Seneca is 102.
| Living Expense | Seneca | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 80 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 97 | 100 |
Seneca 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
Seneca, 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 Seneca is $304,236.
The Median Rent in Seneca is $807.
The Median Income in Seneca is $52,022.
The Home Value To Income in Seneca is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Seneca is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Seneca | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $304,236 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $807 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,022 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Seneca, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Seneca Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Seneca | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.74 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Seneca Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Seneca | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.78 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.45 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Seneca Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Seneca | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.8 | $113.29 |
Detailed Seneca Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Seneca | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Seneca Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Seneca | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 |
Seneca SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Seneca
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Seneca. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mauldin, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Seneca.
Simpsonville, SC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Seneca.
Taylors, SC has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Seneca.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauldin, SC | 27,055 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Simpsonville, SC | 26,144 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Wade Hampton, SC | 20,898 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Five Forks, SC | 18,656 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Clemson, SC | 18,072 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Toccoa, GA | 9,238 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Commerce, GA | 8,013 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Etowah, NC | 7,968 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 1.1x |
