Cost of Living in Charleston, SC
| Cost of Living in Charleston, SC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 27% higher | 4% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 4% higher | 14% higher |
| Food | 2% higher | 2% higher |
| Healthcare | 14% lower | 14% lower |
| Transportation | 2% higher | 5% lower |
| Goods & Services | 14% higher | 1% higher |
The cost of living in Charleston, SC is 12% higher than the state average and 2% higher than the national average. Charleston, SC housing is 4% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 14% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 2% pricier in Charleston, SC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 14% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% pricier in Charleston, SC.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Charleston is $2,080, while home prices circle around $526,080.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charleston, energy bills cost around $249.82 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.54 in Charleston, a dozen eggs go for around $3.41 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.03.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Charleston, an optometry check-up costs around $82.86, while a dentist appointment is priced $99.17 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.03 in Charleston, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $65.35.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $24.77 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $25.20.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Charleston, you should budget around $12.03 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.50, while dry cleaning costs about $20.78.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Charleston, the median household income is $90,038.