Is Charleston expensive to live in?

Charleston is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,430 per month ranks #19 of 112 and is 32% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Charleston?

Average rent in Charleston, SC runs a studio around $1,579, a one-bedroom around $1,430, a two-bedroom around $1,684, a three-bedroom around $2,076 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Charleston?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,430 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year. The median household income here is $90,038.

How much does it cost to live in Charleston per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Charleston is about $1,620 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Charleston, SC

Population 152,014 · South Carolina

~$1,620/mo est.1BR $1,430Home $469,100

Photo: Cody Silver / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Charleston, SC is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,430 a month — 32% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,579 and two-bedrooms $1,684.

Median household income here is $90,038, 30% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,620 before food and transport. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,430

Studio

$1,579

1 Bedroom

$1,430

2 Bedroom

$1,684

3 Bedroom

$2,076

Buying a Home$469,100

Median Home Value

$469,100

Income$90,038

Median Household Income

$90,038

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.2¢/kWh

Electricity

16.2¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$27.35/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (SC)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 6.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime358.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

358.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,035.1

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Charleston Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.1 yrs

Median Age

36.1 yrs

Homeownership

55.6%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

Avg Commute

23.8 min

Climate66.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

66.7°F

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

Charleston cost of living — FAQ

Is Charleston expensive to live in?: Charleston is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,430 per month ranks #19 of 112 and is 32% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Charleston?: Average rent in Charleston, SC runs a studio around $1,579, a one-bedroom around $1,430, a two-bedroom around $1,684, a three-bedroom around $2,076 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Charleston?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,430 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year. The median household income here is $90,038.
How much does it cost to live in Charleston per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Charleston is about $1,620 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Charleston with nearby cities

Charleston vs Augusta Charleston vs Charlotte Charleston vs Jacksonville Charleston vs Raleigh Charleston vs Atlanta Charleston vs Columbus

Nearby cities

Augusta, GA 130 mi Charlotte, NC 177 mi Jacksonville, FL 197 mi Raleigh, NC 220 mi Atlanta, GA 266 mi Columbus, GA 295 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.