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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in South Carolina using 2026 census, rent, and salary data.…
#1 Ranked: Columbia — cost index 94, rent $1,459/mo, income $55,653
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 3 cities in South Carolina using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Columbia comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Here's Columbia by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,459/month. Income: $55,653/year. Home price: $226,769. Population: 129,330. The strongest category is Housing at 84; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,232 per year vs. the national median. This is quietly one of the better values out there.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $1,459 | 12% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | North Charleston | $1,670 | 13% | 101 | Details |
| 3 | Charleston | $2,127 | 17% | 121 | Details |
129,330 residents · South Carolina
Why Columbia ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 94 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,459/month while the median household pulls in $55,653/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 84, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $226,769 — $240,601 below the national median.
121,469 residents · South Carolina
Dive into North Charleston's numbers: cost index 101 (11 points below national average), rent $1,670/month, income $62,789, and a home price of $307,981. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 93, while Healthcare runs 104. With 121,469 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs. Below the radar, but not for long.
155,369 residents · South Carolina
Charleston earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 121 cost index sits 9 points above the national baseline, and the $90,038 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $581,145 — $113,775 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 111, while Housing trails at 152.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Columbia | 6.4% | 7.44% | 0.52% | $99,883 |
2North Charleston | 6.4% | 7.44% | 0.52% | $99,883 |
3Charleston | 6.4% | 7.44% | 0.52% | $99,883 |
We calculate what percentage of a $150K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Columbia ranks #1 in South Carolina for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $55,653.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Columbia, rent would consume about 12% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Columbia (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,459/mo, while Charleston (ranked #3) has a cost index of 121 and rent of $2,127/mo — a 27-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Columbia is $1,459/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $436 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 6.4% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Columbia is approximately $99,883/year ($8,324/month). After median rent of $1,459/month, you'd have roughly $82,375/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Columbia is $226,769, which is 4.1× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
South Carolina has a 6.4% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.44%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.52%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.