Folly Beach, SC vs Hampton, SC

The cost of living difference between Folly Beach, SC and Hampton, SC is dramatic. Hampton is 135% cheaper than Folly Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Folly Beach has a cost index of 172 while Hampton sits at 73, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Folly Beach is $1,930/month compared to $818/month in Hampton — a 136% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hampton is more affordable at $179,700 median vs $951,200.

Median household income in Folly Beach is $97,813 compared to $45,809 in Hampton (+113.5%). The higher salaries in Folly Beach partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Folly Beach spend roughly 23.7% of their income on rent, more than the 21.4% in Hampton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (67.2°F vs 67.2°F). Hampton receives more rainfall at 45" per year compared to 44.3" in Folly Beach.