Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 41% 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.

Augusta, GA
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,579
+101% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$916
$1,430
+56% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,684
+63% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$2,076
+69% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$469,100
+188% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$90,038
+69% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$49,150
+7% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.1 yr
+1.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
50.9%
55.6%
+4.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
57.7%
+33.5 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
20.6 min
23.8 min
+3.2 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
358.8
+34% in Augusta, GA
Property Crime
3,652
2,035.1
+44% in Augusta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
66.7°F
+1.5°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
44.4 in
+2.1 in in Augusta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
16.2
+2% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$27.35
+18% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / SC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
6.00%
+0.8 pp in SC

Augusta vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Charleston?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Charleston?
Augusta 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).