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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while South Carolina trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Charleston at index 124 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving South Carolina. Below the radar, but not for …
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | 124 | $2,127 | Details |
| 2 | North Charleston | 98 | $1,670 | Details |
| 3 | Columbia | 85 | $1,459 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Charleston — cost index 124, rent $2,127/mo, income $90,038
2 of 3 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Premium market, smart picks: while South Carolina trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Charleston at index 124 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving South Carolina. Below the radar, but not for long.
A closer look at Charleston: the cost index of 124 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 105 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 124 (weakest). Median rent is $2,127/month — 12% above the national median — while household income sits at $90,038, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. Across South Carolina, the average cost of living index is 102 — 9 points below the national median. Known for Lowcountry charm and migration-driven growth, the state offers 3 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,752/month. That's $143 less than the national average of $1,895. On a fixed income, this is the metric that matters most.
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.
155,369 residents · South Carolina
A closer look at Charleston: the cost index of 124 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 105 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 124 (weakest). Median rent is $2,127/month — 12% above the national median — while household income sits at $90,038, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
121,469 residents · South Carolina
The #2 spot goes to North Charleston, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,670/month — saving renters $2,700 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 98, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
129,330 residents · South Carolina
Columbia earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 85 cost index sits 26 points below the national baseline, and the $55,653 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $226,769 — $240,601 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 85, while Healthcare trails at 97.
Cities with the highest rents in South Carolina are ranked from most expensive to least. High rent doesn't always mean unaffordable — we pair rent data with income to show the full picture. 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.
Charleston ranks #1 in South Carolina for this analysis with a cost index of 124 and median income of $90,038.
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.
Charleston (ranked #1) has a cost index of 124 and rent of $2,127/mo, while Columbia (ranked #3) has a cost index of 85 and rent of $1,459/mo — a 39-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 Charleston is $2,127/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $232 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Charleston is $581,145, which is 6.5× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. 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.