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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.…
129,330 residents · South Carolina
Frankly, Why Columbia ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 85 on the cost index, residents save roughly 26% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,459/month — worth pausing on — while the median household pulls in $55,653/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 85, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $226,769 — $240,601 below the national median (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities).
121,469 residents · South Carolina
What does daily life actually cost in North Charleston? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 98) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 100) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $62,789 and homes at $307,981 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
155,369 residents · South Carolina
Charleston earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 124 cost index sits 13 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, Healthcare leads the way at 105, while Housing trails at 124.
#1 Ranked: Columbia — cost index 85, 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
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $1,459 | 12% | 85 | Details |
| 2 | North Charleston | $1,670 | 13% | 98 | Details |
| 3 | Charleston | $2,127 | 17% | 124 | Details |
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.
At $1,459/month — make of that what you will — for rent and a cost index of 85, Columbia is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $55,653. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Columbia ($1,459/mo, 12%), North Charleston ($1,670/mo, 13%), Charleston ($2,127/mo, 17%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $99,883 to $99,883/year across these top picks.
The gap here is wider than it has any right to be: 3 of 3 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. On a $150K salary, 3 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. That gap is hard to ignore (more on that below).
Now, stack that against what people actually earn here: State context matters: South Carolina's 3 cities average a 102 cost index with $1,752/month median rent and $69,493 household income. Lowcountry charm and migration-driven growth. The FAQ section goes deeper on this.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
| 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 model what a $150K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 85 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 85 and rent of $1,459/mo, while Charleston (ranked #3) has a cost index of 124 and rent of $2,127/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 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.