Cost of Living in Charleston, SC
| Cost of Living in Charleston, SC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 22% higher | 3% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 11% higher | 20% higher |
| Food | 1% higher | 2% higher |
| Healthcare | 5% lower | 11% lower |
| Transportation | 8% lower | 12% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% lower | 3% lower |
The cost of living in Charleston, SC is 5% higher than the state average and 2% lower than the national average. Charleston, SC housing is 3% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 20% 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 3% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 11% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% cheaper 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 $2,037, while home prices circle around $448,988.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Charleston, energy bills cost around $258.50 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 $4.59 in Charleston, a dozen eggs go for around $4.24 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.51.
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 $78.10, while a dentist appointment is priced $97.17 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.18 in Charleston, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $46.64.
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 $30.64 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $26.61.
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 $11.30 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.38, while dry cleaning costs about $15.56.
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.