Folly Beach, SC vs New Ellenton, SC

The cost of living difference between Folly Beach, SC and New Ellenton, SC is dramatic. New Ellenton is 158.4% 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 New Ellenton sits at 67, 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 $695/month in New Ellenton — a 178% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Ellenton is more affordable at $164,900 median vs $951,200.

Median household income in Folly Beach is $97,813 compared to $60,625 in New Ellenton (+61.3%). Folly Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Folly Beach spend roughly 23.7% of their income on rent, more than the 13.8% in New Ellenton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (67.2°F vs 65.4°F). Folly Beach receives more rainfall at 44.3" per year compared to 44.1" in New Ellenton.