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Cost of Living in South Carolina

416 cities | Population: 2,611,112

82
Average Cost of Living Index (US = 100)
Median Income: $58,750

Cost of Living in South Carolina: Overview

South Carolina has a cost of living index of 82, making it 18% less expensive than the national average. The statewide median household income is $58,750 (22% below the US median of $75,149). Across 416 cities tracked in South Carolina, costs vary widely depending on location, proximity to metro areas, and local housing markets.

Housing drives most of the variation. The average median rent across South Carolina cities is $984/mo (25% below the national median of $1,319), and the average median home value is $206,156 (32% below the national figure of $304,900). There is a 92-point spread between the most affordable city, Bennettsville (index 59), and the most expensive, Mount Pleasant (index 152) — a large gap that shows significant regional cost differences.

When evaluating South Carolina, it helps to look beyond the state average. Individual city costs can deviate significantly — use the map and rankings below to compare specific locations.

The largest cities in South Carolina by population are Charleston (index 123, pop. 152,014), Columbia (index 88, pop. 138,019), North Charleston (index 99, pop. 117,460), Mount Pleasant (index 152, pop. 92,662), and Rock Hill (index 95, pop. 74,769). All of these major cities are above the state average, a pattern common in states where metro areas drive up costs relative to rural communities.

Data: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow, HUD, BEA Regional Price Parities. Updated monthly.

Cost of Living Map

Top 200 cities by population. Click a marker for details.

All Cities in South Carolina (416)

City Population Cost Index Median Income
Charleston 152,014 123 $90,038
Columbia 138,019 88 $55,653
North Charleston 117,460 99 $62,789
Mount Pleasant 92,662 152 $121,364
Rock Hill 74,769 95 $64,770
Greenville 71,755 108 $68,460
Summerville 51,262 103 $78,621
Goose Creek 46,964 107 $87,437
Sumter 43,065 78 $53,071
Florence 40,205 74 $56,433
Greer 39,191 89 $80,030
Spartanburg 38,578 79 $51,193
Hilton Head Island 37,805 133 $96,715
Myrtle Beach 37,214 96 $53,679
Aiken 32,334 90 $69,837
Bluffton 31,323 136 $105,463
Anderson 29,563 78 $44,321
Fort Mill 28,281 115 $127,537
Carolina Forest 26,373 105 $70,647
Conway 26,082 79 $54,841
Mauldin 25,985 95 $81,027
Simpsonville 25,125 95 $79,233
North Augusta 24,928 83 $90,132
Socastee 24,629 88 $59,826
Lexington 24,132 96 $83,263
Easley 23,942 80 $65,330
Taylors 23,686 91 $71,747
Greenwood 22,527 68 $40,253
Hanahan 21,119 103 $84,061
St. Andrews 20,953 77 $45,321
Wade Hampton 20,703 89 $75,522
North Myrtle Beach 19,343 99 $72,111
Five Forks 19,093 132 $140,668
Clemson 17,759 92 $49,713
West Columbia 17,723 81 $54,152
Berea 16,642 79 $48,104
Red Hill 16,480 84 $62,132
Ladson 16,261 100 $83,031
Seven Oaks 15,990 85 $64,003
Dentsville 15,396 80 $44,029
Lake Wylie 15,177 118 $112,113
Gantt 15,057 76 $47,265
Port Royal 15,047 107 $70,330
Moncks Corner 14,362 98 $91,516
Cayce 13,718 87 $58,095
Beaufort 13,660 91 $59,454
Tega Cay 13,267 114 $141,037
Orangeburg 13,189 68 $33,066
Gaffney 12,612 69 $41,214
Boiling Springs 12,609 89 $79,798
Parker 12,564 75 $38,607
Oak Grove 12,031 79 $75,506
Irmo 11,799 91 $85,137
James Island 11,738 116 $100,176
Powdersville 11,321 96 $88,125
Fountain Inn 11,307 86 $72,021
Red Bank 10,950 82 $60,348
Garden City 10,820 91 $50,027
Newberry 10,733 68 $47,885
Forest Acres 10,491 90 $76,417
Little River 10,457 101 $64,590
Murrells Inlet 10,087 114 $75,438
Woodfield 9,901 79 $38,394
Litchfield Beach 9,544 115 $74,451
Lugoff 9,475 73 $61,316
Laurens 9,307 68 $55,207
Hardeeville 9,293 114 $78,233
Seneca 8,910 75 $52,207
Lancaster 8,738 78 $43,234
York 8,697 73 $47,315
Sangaree 8,517 98 $77,939
Georgetown 8,511 70 $57,704
Sans Souci 8,199 78 $46,276
Travelers Rest 8,137 87 $49,655
Union 8,047 64 $34,112
Camden 8,025 77 $53,289
White Knoll 7,865 90 $79,531
Clinton 7,624 71 $40,372
Forestbrook 7,450 90 $77,791
Welcome 7,439 76 $61,948
Hartsville 7,422 72 $47,720
Valley Falls 7,249 79 $55,671
Burton 7,132 89 $57,315
Lake Murray of Richland 7,057 115 $118,435
Clover 7,013 84 $66,992
Homeland Park 6,944 65 $38,079
Centerville 6,860 81 $66,912
Bennettsville 6,798 59 $40,889
Dillon 6,406 61 $34,964
Marion 6,338 61 $27,767
Lyman 6,317 86 $69,688
Darlington 6,128 69 $31,240
Lake City 6,032 63 $35,000
Piedmont 5,786 70 $51,896
Laurel Bay 5,627 93 $52,094
Walterboro 5,490 73 $48,366
Belvedere 5,458 71 $57,933
Hollywood 5,330 107 $77,415
Blythewood 5,309 96 $105,583
Central 5,299 81 $58,262
Chester 5,241 70 $41,231
Cheraw 5,024 66 $27,275
Batesburg-Leesville 4,935 67 $53,102
Abbeville 4,863 59 $38,983
Barnwell 4,616 61 $43,239
Belton 4,405 69 $48,164
Baxter Village 4,355 119 $146,440
Isle of Palms 4,350 231 $148,029
Woodruff 4,337 71 $64,292
Surfside Beach 4,217 105 $74,202
East Camden 4,210 72 $53,234
Duncan 4,175 78 $51,596
Capitol View 4,161 80 $47,054
Newport 4,142 100 $107,143
Saxon 4,139 65 $28,394
Walhalla 4,121 67 $42,696
Williamston 4,116 72 $62,500
Brookdale 4,061 61 $34,279
Southern Shops 3,985 69 $35,016
Edgefield 3,977 67 $37,500
Mullins 3,965 61 $30,750
Northlake 3,848 84 $79,531
Manning 3,843 65 $27,597
India Hook 3,794 96 $94,505
Ridgeland 3,756 79 $71,023
Honea Path 3,734 65 $56,304
Dunean 3,716 80 $50,382
Whitney 3,659 70 $49,181
Wyboo 3,582 72 $57,725
Pendleton 3,542 79 $60,517
Roebuck 3,468 80 $51,111
Wellford 3,432 84 $55,871
Pickens 3,386 75 $58,534
Liberty 3,337 68 $42,077
Winnsboro 3,332 66 $35,649
Keowee Key 3,307 115 $118,668
North Hartsville 3,217 74 $59,990
Lesslie 3,202 94 $86,500
East Gaffney 3,169 62 $26,314
Kingstree 3,161 59 $28,776
Lakewood 3,154 80 $49,255
Denmark 3,141 63 $33,100
Cherryvale 3,136 67 $41,563
Clearwater 3,124 70 $50,669
Saluda 3,095 63 $40,567
Burnettown 3,090 78 $38,371
Inman 3,085 81 $55,156
Golden Grove 3,084 79 $71,694
Arthurtown 3,063 67 $19,820
Hilltop 3,058 77 $39,432
Bamberg 3,036 67 $27,614
Bishopville 2,958 58 $44,015
Dalzell 2,949 72 $52,723
Arkwright 2,910 68 $51,458
Williston 2,884 61 $35,968
Springdale 2,727 84 $70,852
Arcadia 2,724 76 $37,574
Pine Ridge 2,709 87 $74,861
Hampton 2,691 73 $45,809
McCormick 2,681 59 $40,269
Ninety Six 2,635 68 $53,438
New Ellenton 2,604 67 $60,625
Allendale 2,595 59 $25,250
Ravenel 2,594 88 $72,365
Loris 2,570 69 $36,158
Landrum 2,564 63 $41,161
Andrews 2,558 73 $53,611
Johnston 2,518 65 $34,957
Pageland 2,476 67 $40,236
McColl 2,453 51 $33,925
Varnville 2,433 73 $52,800
Springdale 2,422 69 $42,708
Gloverville 2,418 67 $51,691
Ben Avon 2,334 80 $46,736
Privateer 2,294 62 $49,861
Estill 2,287 62 $36,547
Edisto 2,261 62 $46,644
Elgin 2,258 71 $74,167
Watts Mills 2,250 82 $47,192
Westminster 2,244 65 $38,393
Kershaw 2,220 73 $58,077
Riverview 2,215 94 $131,158
Ware Shoals 2,207 65 $35,896
Judson 2,201 78 $33,600
Kiawah Island 2,196 217 $236,607
Graniteville 2,176 70 $29,495
Elgin 2,176 88 $84,219
Pacolet 2,164 65 $46,120
Blacksburg 2,158 69 $33,500
Timmonsville 2,153 63 $32,736
Sullivan's Island 2,127 272 $179,614
Seabrook Island 2,107 215 $124,519
Fairfax 2,037 58 $41,328
Cowpens 2,031 69 $37,168
Gaston 2,026 70 $59,500
Arial 2,024 69 $50,132
Shell Point 2,005 89 $65,840
Mayo 1,963 63 $47,384
Hopkins 1,962 70 $49,464
Reidville 1,955 89 $117,692
Pimlico 1,940 110 $138,833
St. George 1,935 70 $31,950
Slater-Marietta 1,934 71 $42,857
South Congaree 1,918 72 $58,726
Calhoun Falls 1,897 52 $35,527
Stateburg 1,859 99 $71,781
Wilkinson Heights 1,853 63 $22,714
Monarch Mill 1,828 59 $39,212
South Sumter 1,808 60 $42,708
Irwin 1,801 75 $53,795
Jackson 1,782 64 $37,067
Blackville 1,778 68 $26,100
Great Falls 1,741 64 $30,475
Eureka Mill 1,732 77 $35,980
Langley 1,718 65 $50,750
Fairforest 1,711 67 $60,199
St. Matthews 1,626 70 $55,351
Camp Croft 1,604 74 $38,940
Ridgeville 1,591 93 $56,134
Awendaw 1,574 152 $70,781
Pelzer 1,570 78 $54,886
Bonneau Beach 1,543 94 $57,561
Chesterfield 1,497 69 $48,167
Wedgefield 1,480 75 $41,662
St. Stephen 1,460 69 $59,688
Lamar 1,446 69 $44,000
Winnsboro Mills 1,426 87 $34,426
Holly Hill 1,415 71 $34,792
Chapin 1,410 92 $77,632
Homewood 1,390 71 $44,466
Joanna 1,375 60 $42,169
Latta 1,301 62 $45,500
West Pelzer 1,276 69 $53,125
Edmund 1,274 64 $35,750
Meggett 1,274 124 $96,032
Whitmire 1,241 60 $32,188
Buffalo 1,232 75 $21,831
Catawba 1,225 97 $55,385
Lake Secession 1,209 89 $46,933
Prosperity 1,198 68 $58,276
Murphys Estates 1,187 87 $90,357
Due West 1,185 76 $52,059
Santee 1,179 68 $36,856
Conestee 1,175 79 $60,450
City View 1,172 89 $37,625
Wagener 1,170 68 $45,753
Branchville 1,169 67 $40,144
Cottageville 1,154 72 $68,750
Pelion 1,147 71 $61,250
Fort Lawn 1,144 88 $54,141
Beech Island 1,139 70 $31,996
Gadsden 1,131 81 $54,464
Aynor 1,077 84 $70,972
Drayton 1,043 79 $51,650
Johnsonville 1,037 66 $47,891
Jonesville 1,016 54 $35,000
Dovesville 1,014 81 $32,072
Yemassee 1,007 70 $36,923
Elloree 1,005 77 $33,750
McBee 1,000 67 $59,500
Edisto Beach 987 121 $81,250
Six Mile 984 83 $110,000
Newtown 969 68 $33,214
Seabrook 959 76 $62,941
Folly Beach 958 172 $97,813
Sandy Springs 955 82 $68,393
Pamplico 952 61 $24,646
Pinopolis 950 101 $113,750
Iva 937 65 $24,313
Warrenville 925 78 $39,817
La France 915 83 $76,926
Oakland 901 79 $61,875
Inman Mills 896 73 $42,031
Campobello 888 92 $84,063
Quinby 865 72 $65,208
Clifton 861 81 $48,357
Ridge Spring 848 58 $38,854
Arcadia Lakes 843 101 $96,000
Norris 838 67 $51,750
Lincolnville 835 72 $36,538
Heath Springs 825 71 $50,500
Scranton 820 62 $26,250
The Cliffs Valley 813 146 $114,583
Manville 812 98 $26,607
Chesnee 804 66 $39,375
Mayesville 801 78 $45,179
Bowman 789 68 $27,500
North 783 61 $36,250
Jefferson 753 52 $35,227
Fripp Island 753 123 $101,731
Dunbar 750 98 $88,250
DeBordieu Colony 748 173 $193,182
Furman 747 60 $57,708
Hamer 735 71 $45,417
McClellanville 734 117 $104,236
Gray Court 731 73 $64,286
Chickasaw Point 730 96 $79,464
Summerton 709 56 $35,893
Olanta 703 65 $54,375
Turbeville 703 59 $41,667
Swansea 700 72 $49,271
Coward 668 64 $36,250
Lake View 661 61 $31,033
Unity 655 99 $37,037
Harleyville 653 74 $60,231
Daufuskie Island 636 99 $153,821
Summit 596 80 $76,250
Pine Ridge 595 61 $54,286
Clio 591 55 $28,875
Fair Play 578 92 $113,466
Modoc 576 106 $95,500
Eastover 566 62 $22,750
Gilbert 563 82 $76,364
Little Rock 560 78 $55,104
Pinewood 559 51 $27,500
Hickory Grove 559 78 $61,250
Sheldon 536 99 $30,239
Bonneau 536 91 $58,750
Lane 531 74 $35,726
North Santee 528 92 $42,393
Fairview Crossroads 523 81 $45,994
Sharon 515 79 $44,125
Hilda 506 59 $46,111
Cross Hill 502 70 $37,083
Briarcliffe Acres 499 135 $182,083
Society Hill 460 58 $32,115
Brunson 457 69 $37,391
Centenary 453 86 $13,313
Cameron 451 80 $72,500
Little Mountain 446 94 $90,893
Carlisle 438 66 $59,750
Springfield 434 63 $44,583
Neeses 431 77 $37,708
Alcolu 426 65 $41,917
Converse 424 71 $50,139
Bethune 421 90 $42,656
Ehrhardt 416 59 $33,984
Hemingway 413 64 $44,375
Lockhart 411 57 $37,188
Rowesville 406 64 $28,125
West Union 396 66 $49,821
Paxville 386 67 $56,071
Danwood 384 86 $120,188
Lynchburg 373 64 $15,000
Greeleyville 364 56 $31,250
Lowrys 357 113 $79,018
Donalds 352 66 $49,643
Elliott 347 80 $39,306
Patrick 341 60 $27,153
Mount Carmel 338 79 $41,534
Salley 335 70 $34,189
Perry 333 64 $35,179
Trenton 320 69 $52,986
McConnells 312 75 $80,833
Harbor Island 310 97 $100,250
Reevesville 295 100 $72,500
Ward 284 66 $55,625
Snelling 283 62 $41,042
Atlantic Beach 283 91 $40,000
Buford 283 90 $77,639
Norway 279 69 $47,632
Pauline 255 89 $79,732
Central Pacolet 255 62 $29,500
Antreville 253 101 $136,250
Ruby 244 64 $49,167
Windsor 243 84 $107,500
Ridgeway 240 68 $47,143
Lydia 237 74 $22,275
Floydale 236 79 $19,628
Stuckey 234 78 $31,786
Starr 231 71 $57,813
Mulberry 230 95 $39,697
Luray 221 98 $52,321
Dacusville 216 95 $50,556
Monetta 209 66 $55,781
Abney Crossroads 209 99 $43,560
Salem 208 85 $63,750
Vance 206 73 $46,250
Gifford 200 60 $29,583
Rembert 199 95 $50,950
Elko 198 79 $41,023
Nichols 195 79 $46,471
Waterloo 192 98 $41,250
Olar 188 73 $36,607
Sellers 188 46 $23,250
Hodges 177 83 $54,531
Wisacky 175 86 $29,413
Livingston 173 74 $47,188
Shiloh 165 81 $82,411
Troy 164 98 $45,833
Silverstreet 160 87 $72,273
Cordova 160 67 $73,750
Lodge 150 78 $34,625
Smoaks 148 85 $63,125
Woodford 139 67 $53,125
Mount Croghan 138 81 $65,833
Kline 135 75 $68,750
Boykin 134 95 $134,219
Clarks Hill 125 97 $40,714
Rockville 125 114 $76,563
Ulmer 118 98 $95,250
Pawleys Island 116 199 $118,750
Williams 116 80 $61,250
Pomaria 103 87 $71,250
Ware Place 101 79 $93,611
Mountville 100 98 $68,710
Tatum 97 81 $34,583
Plum Branch 95 82 $145,833
St. Charles 94 92 $31,515
Parksville 90 66 $41,250
Princeton 88 98 $143,684
Browntown 80 98 $20,086
Tradesville 74 99 $38,333
Govan 61 81 $95,833
Islandton 54 83 $38,250
Blenheim 46 84 $66,667