Home › SC › Charleston, SC Cost of living in Charleston, SC Livability score 60 · cost-of-living index 101.1 (US = 100)
How Charleston compares Where Charleston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 101 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 101 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $436k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $436k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $218 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $218 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.49% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.49% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 530 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 530 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 36° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 36° Map of Charleston Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 101.1 metro-area #148 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.9 metro-area #69 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.75 metro-area #148 of 200 Median household income $77,460 metro-area #70 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,726 metro-area #48 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.1 years metro-area #88 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 40.0% metro-area #41 of 200 Foreign-born residents 6.3% metro-area #139 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 68.7% metro-area #62 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.07% metro-area #28 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +8.0% metro-area #43 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $435,877 metro-area #150 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.6× metro-area #145 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -0.9% metro-area #155 of 200 Price per square foot $218 metro-area #132 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $2,024 metro-area #162 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 6,439 Median days on market 38 metro-area #177 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% state #27 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.44% state #103 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 6.20% Capital gains tax 6.40% state #140 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.49% metro-area #15 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,548 metro-area #39 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 77.2 years metro-area #79 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.8% metro-area #123 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 78 metro-area #91 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 state #19 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $40 state #4 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.33% of value (~$652/yr) state #186 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 1 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #160 of 200 Commute by driving alone 75.5% metro-area #102 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 42.4% metro-area #173 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.1¢/kWh state #107 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $154 state #107 of 200 Gasoline $3.05/gal state #45 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $56 state #51 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $97 state #88 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 96.5 — Relatively High metro-area #160 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 44 metro-area #76 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,000 metro-area #44 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 22 metro-area #88 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 36°F metro-area #71 of 200 Annual precipitation 51.0" metro-area #167 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.0" metro-area #57 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 530 state #180 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 24 metro-area #150 of 200 Parks 33 Hiking areas 10 Golf courses 21 Shooting ranges 5 Lakes 2
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Charleston Major public and private employers in the Charleston, SC area.
Employer Sector Jobs Joint Base Charleston Government Careers → Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Healthcare Search → Boeing Aerospace/Defense Careers → Roper St. Francis Healthcare Healthcare Search → Charleston County School District Education Search → Volvo Cars automotive Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Charleston Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $155,230 Pharmacists $140,660 Financial Managers $129,200 Software Developers $124,280 Physician Assistants $117,340 Human Resources Managers $113,870 Construction Managers $100,140 Physical Therapists $99,050 Lawyers $98,610 Mechanical Engineers $97,890 Data Scientists $94,650 General & Operations Managers $94,520 Civil Engineers $88,990 Registered Nurses $80,440 Dental Hygienists $80,150 Accountants & Auditors $73,850 Web Developers $65,400 Elementary School Teachers $60,500 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,890 Electricians $54,630 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $53,610 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $52,560 Carpenters $51,110 Graphic Designers $49,090 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,000 Medical Assistants $39,930
Cities in the Charleston area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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