Florence, SC vs St. Andrews, SC

Florence, SC and St. Andrews, SC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.1% difference in their overall index. Florence scores 74 while St. Andrews scores 77 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Florence is $922/month compared to $1,060/month in St. Andrews — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Florence has cheaper rent, St. Andrews actually has lower median home values ($146,700 vs $189,800).

Median household income in Florence is $56,433 compared to $45,321 in St. Andrews (+24.5%). Florence offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Florence spend roughly 19.6% of their income on rent, less than the 28.1% in St. Andrews.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.7°F vs 64.3°F). Florence receives more rainfall at 45.3" per year compared to 45.2" in St. Andrews.