St. Stephen, SC vs Surfside Beach, SC

The cost of living difference between St. Stephen, SC and Surfside Beach, SC is dramatic. St. Stephen is 34.1% cheaper than Surfside Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. St. Stephen has a cost index of 69 while Surfside Beach sits at 105, 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 St. Stephen is $764/month compared to $1,274/month in Surfside Beach — a 40% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Stephen is more affordable at $131,400 median vs $412,100.

Median household income in St. Stephen is $59,688 compared to $74,202 in Surfside Beach (-19.6%). The higher salaries in Surfside Beach partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Stephen spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 20.6% in Surfside Beach.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.5°F vs 64°F). St. Stephen receives more rainfall at 52.5" per year compared to 48.5" in Surfside Beach.