Cost of Living in Charleston, SC
Updated November 2026 · Charleston County · Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area · population 154,338
Prices in Charleston are 1.9% above the US average (local index 101.9; the BEA index for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is 101.0), with local housing the biggest cost driver at 121.9; a single adult's modelled budget is about $3,096 a month and the median rent is $1,722.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Charleston's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, unchanged.
Charleston price index by category, US average = 100: All items 101.9, Housing (rents) 121.9, Goods 96.3, Utilities 88.2, Other services 98.3
It is the 3rd most expensive of the 12 South Carolina cities in our data. More expensive than 50% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | 98.0 | 99.2 | 99.1 | 101.1 | 101.0 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Charleston, SC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,440 | $17,280 | 47% |
| Utilities | $255 | $3,060 | 8% |
| Food at home | $272 | $3,264 | 9% |
| Transportation | $622 | $7,464 | 20% |
| Health care | $345 | $4,140 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $162 | $1,944 | 5% |
| Total | $3,096 | $37,152 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Charleston, SC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,597 | $19,164 | 34% |
| Utilities | $403 | $4,836 | 9% |
| Food at home | $502 | $6,024 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,233 | $14,796 | 26% |
| Health care | $640 | $7,680 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $319 | $3,828 | 7% |
| Total | $4,694 | $56,328 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Charleston, SC
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,024 | $24,288 | 34% |
| Utilities | $491 | $5,892 | 8% |
| Food at home | $715 | $8,580 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,635 | $19,620 | 28% |
| Health care | $597 | $7,164 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $411 | $4,932 | 7% |
| Total | $5,873 | $70,476 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Charleston
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,528 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,574 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,746 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,213 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,628 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,722 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,575 |
| Median home value | $509,700 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,253/mo |
| Median household income | $92,414 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 32.7% |
| Home value ÷ household income Expensive | 5.5× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in South Carolina
15.76¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +4.0% (from 15.16¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 1,069 kWh a month in South Carolina ≈ $169/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)
$3.69 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +30.9% (from $2.82) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; South Carolina is covered by the Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) average.
Inflation in the South
Consumer prices in the South Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Charleston are 1.9% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $58,900 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 101.9. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 7 mi | 107.6 | $3,380 | $2,159 |
| North Charleston, SC | 8 mi | 98.1 | $2,777 | $1,430 |
| Summerville, SC | 17 mi | 99.4 | $2,693 | $1,526 |
| Beaufort, SC | 51 mi | 93.3 | $2,572 | $1,212 |
| Bluffton, SC | 70 mi | 105.2 | $3,491 | $2,256 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 88 mi | 94.9 | $2,757 | $1,261 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leander, TX | 101.9 | $2,994 | $1,939 |
| Apex, NC | 101.9 | $3,115 | $1,902 |
| Dundalk, MD | 101.9 | $2,679 | $1,473 |
| Orlando, FL | 101.9 | $3,021 | $1,747 |
| Chico, CA | 101.9 | $2,920 | $1,488 |
| Durango, CO | 101.9 | $2,800 | $1,636 |
Compare Charleston with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Charleston, SC an expensive place to live?
Charleston has a local cost of living index of 101.9, which is 1.9% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area (101.0) and adjusts housing to Charleston's own rents. It is 8.1 points above the South Carolina average. It is the 3rd most expensive of the 12 South Carolina cities in our data. More expensive than 50% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Charleston?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $3,096 for a single adult, $4,694 for a couple and $5,873 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $61,100 in Charleston.
What is the average rent in Charleston?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,722 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,574, 2 bedrooms $1,746, 3 bedrooms $2,213. The typical renter spends 32.7% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Charleston?
The median owner-estimated home value is $509,700, 5.5 times the median household income of $92,414 (expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,253 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Charleston?
South Carolina residential electricity averaged 15.76¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $3.69 a gallon (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 101.0) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 4513330 (Charleston city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, South Carolina residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U South region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources