Living Cost Compare
Baltimore

Maryland

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Baltimore, MD is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 34% higher in Charleston, SC. 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.

Baltimore, MD
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,050
$1,579
+50% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,073
$1,430
+33% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,353
$1,684
+24% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,555
$2,076
+34% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,300
$469,100
+114% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$59,623
$90,038
+51% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,070
$49,150
+17% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.1 yr
about equal
Homeownership
47.5%
55.6%
+8.1 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.4%
57.7%
+22.3 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
29.4 min
23.8 min
+5.6 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,616.7
358.8
+78% in Baltimore, MD
Property Crime
4,202.6
2,035.1
+52% in Baltimore, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.4°F
66.7°F
+5.3°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
44.4 in
+2.0 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.8
16.2
+26% in Baltimore, 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
$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 (MD / SC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.50%
6.00%
+0.5 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Charleston?
Baltimore, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Charleston?
Baltimore 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).