Living Cost Compare
Ann Arbor

Michigan

$1,630/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 $1,630 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $81,089 in Ann Arbor, MI and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 10% higher in Charleston, SC. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Ann Arbor, MI
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,274
$1,579
+24% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,389
$1,430
+3% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,692
$1,684
+0% in Ann Arbor, MI
3 Bedroom
$1,812
$2,076
+15% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,100
$469,100
+8% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$81,089
$90,038
+11% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,380
$49,150
+11% in Ann Arbor, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
27.7 yr
36.1 yr
+8.4 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
45.6%
55.6%
+10.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
77.7%
57.7%
+20.0 pp in Ann Arbor, MI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.8 min
+3.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
311
358.8
+15% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
1,744.5
2,035.1
+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
47.7°F
66.7°F
+19.0°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
32.8 in
44.4 in
+11.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Charleston, SC

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.0
15.6
+32% in Ann Arbor, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.72
$29.07
+47% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Ann Arbor, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Ann Arbor, MI
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Ann Arbor, MI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / SC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.25%
6.00%
+1.8 pp in SC

Ann Arbor vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Ann Arbor or Charleston?
Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Ann Arbor, MI's $1,630, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Ann Arbor than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Ann Arbor versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Ann Arbor or Charleston?
Ann Arbor is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).