Cost of living in Charleston, SC: rent, homes and salary
Living in Charleston, SC costs 1.0% more than the US average. In 2024, BEA's regional price parity (RPP) for the metro area covering Charleston, SC stands at 101.0, the US at 100, and housing by itself at 119.8.
- Level of prices
- 101.0US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- Rents: 119.8, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Charleston, SC
What one basket of goods and services costs in a given place, measured against the US average of 100, is what a regional price parity shows. Within the metro area called Charleston-North Charleston, SC sits Charleston, SC, and BEA prices the whole region together. Housing (rents) has the widest gap from the US average, at 119.8, or 19.8% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Charleston, SC metro | South Carolina | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 93.7 | +1.0% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 119.8 | 80.5 | +19.8% |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 88.3 | −11.8% |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 | −1.7% |
The 2024 regional price parities for metro areas and states come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). BEA parities by metro and state
Charleston, SC rental costs
In Charleston, SC, the typical asking rent is $2,288 a month, based on Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). That index covers rent on homes listed now, and stands +4.8% from a year earlier. The US figure is $1,932. Census data put median gross rent at $1,887, a figure that includes every renting household rather than only new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 28% of the median household income.
| Rent | Charleston, SC | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,288 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +4.8% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,887 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for a year, as a share of median income | 28% | 28% |
Figures come from Zillow Observed Rent Index and from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, using one-year estimates.
Charleston, SC home prices
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) valued a typical Charleston, SC home at $587,511 in September 2026. It tracks values for typical homes, ones in the middle of the market. The yearly change is +1.4%, while the US figure is $366,157. A home costs 6.0 years of median household income there, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Charleston, SC | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $587,511 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +1.4% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +96.1% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 21.4 | 15.8 |
For the price chart since 2000, plus the forecast and days on the market, see the Charleston, SC housing market.
The salary you need for living in Charleston, SC
Where you live and what you earn are the two inputs behind the salary you need in Charleston, SC to keep today's purchasing power.
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Comparing Charleston, SC with other cities on cost of living
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Rent, typical | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | 119.8 | $2,288 | $587,511 |
| Columbia, South Carolina | 93.7 | 79.5 | $1,500 | $227,148 |
| Greenville | 93.3 | 76.8 | $1,564 | $328,460 |
| Myrtle Beach | 93.6 | 83.1 | $1,697 | $323,033 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Rent: Zillow ZORI. Home value figures come from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: compare cities by cost of living. All states: cost of living for each state.