Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Charleston?

Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Charleston?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/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 $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 9% higher in Charleston, SC. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,579

+5% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,430

+9% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,684

+1% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$2,076

+33% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$469,100

+12% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$90,038

+10% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$49,150

+4% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

36.1 yr

+2.1 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

46.3%

55.6%

+9.3 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

57.7%

+0.7 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

23.8 min

+3.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.7

358.8

+41% in Atlanta, GA

Property Crime

3,548.3

2,035.1

+43% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.6°F

66.7°F

+4.1°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

44.4 in

+5.3 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.8

16.2

+2% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$33.28

$27.35

+18% in Atlanta, GA

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 (GA / SC)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

6.00%

+0.8 pp in SC

Atlanta vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Charleston?: Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Charleston?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).