Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 8% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,579
+58% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,430
+36% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,684
+18% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$2,076
+6% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$469,100
+25% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$90,038
+8% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$49,150
+18% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.1 yr
+1.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
63.7%
55.6%
+8.1 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
57.7%
+20.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
19.0 min
23.8 min
+4.8 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
358.8
+65% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
2,035.1
+27% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
66.7°F
+29.3°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
44.4 in
+26.5 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
16.2
+43% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$27.35
+90% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / SC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.00%
+6.0 pp in SC

Anchorage vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Charleston?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Charleston?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).