Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Charleston?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Charleston?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).

Boise vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 10% higher in Charleston, SC. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,579

+55% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,430

+26% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,684

+25% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$2,076

+19% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$469,100

+3% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$90,038

+11% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$49,150

+0% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

36.1 yr

+2.1 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

55.6%

+7.4 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

57.7%

+11.1 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

19.1 min

23.8 min

+4.7 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

358.8

+19% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

1,135.1

2,035.1

+79% 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

52.5°F

66.7°F

+14.2°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

44.4 in

+32.7 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$3.86/gal

+10% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

16.2

+31% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$27.35

+153% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Boise, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / SC)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

6.00%

+0.7 pp in SC

Boise vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Charleston?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Charleston?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).