Is it cheaper to live in Annapolis or Charleston?

Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Annapolis than in Charleston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Annapolis versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Annapolis or Charleston?

Annapolis is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).

Annapolis vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Annapolis

Maryland

$1,820/mo est.

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,820 in Annapolis, MD versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Annapolis, MD, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $104,257 in Annapolis, MD and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 14% higher in Annapolis, MD. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Annapolis, MD

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,239

$1,579

+27% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,598

$1,430

+11% in Annapolis, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,864

$1,684

+10% in Annapolis, MD

3 Bedroom

$2,232

$2,076

+7% in Annapolis, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$510,200

$469,100

+8% in Annapolis, MD

Income

Median Household Income

$104,257

$90,038

+14% in Annapolis, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$49,150

+17% in Annapolis, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.9 yr

36.1 yr

+4.8 yr in Annapolis, MD

Homeownership

59.8%

55.6%

+4.2 pp in Annapolis, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.7%

57.7%

+4.0 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

28.7 min

23.8 min

+4.9 min in Annapolis, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

806

358.8

+55% in Annapolis, MD

Property Crime

2,111.5

2,035.1

+4% in Annapolis, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

66.7°F

+9.6°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

—

44.4 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

16.2

+26% in Annapolis, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$27.35

+44% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / SC)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

6.00%

+0.5 pp in MD

Annapolis vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Annapolis or Charleston?: Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Annapolis, MD's $1,820, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Annapolis than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Annapolis versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Annapolis or Charleston?: Annapolis is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).