What is the cost of living in Sumter, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sumter has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Sumter has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Sumter ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Sumter ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Sumter, check out:
Sumter Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sumter. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sumter is 100.
The Groceries index in Sumter is 96.
The Health index in Sumter is 76.
The Housing index in Sumter is 100.
The Transportation index in Sumter is 101.
The Utilities index in Sumter is 95.
| Living Expense | Sumter | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Sumter 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
Sumter, 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 Sumter is $213,462.
The Median Rent in Sumter is $1,076.
The Median Income in Sumter is $55,592.
The Home Value To Income in Sumter is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sumter is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Sumter | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $213,462 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,076 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,592 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Sumter, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Sumter Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Sumter | 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 Sumter Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Sumter | 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 Sumter Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Sumter | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sumter Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Sumter | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sumter Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Sumter | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
Sumter SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sumter
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sumter. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lexington, SC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Sumter.
West Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Sumter.
Seven Oaks, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Sumter.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sumter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.1x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.1x |
| 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 |
| Lugoff, SC | 9,786 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,465 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Camden, SC | 8,267 | 96 | 1.0x |
