Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Charleston?

Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $57,000 in Charleston.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Charleston?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Charleston Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 29% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,579

+29% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,430

+43% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,684

+43% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$2,076

+38% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$469,100

+55% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$90,038

+29% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,150

+26% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

36.1 yr

+5.6 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

33.7%

55.6%

+21.9 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

57.7%

+22.5 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

23.8 min

+2.3 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

358.8

+18% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

2,035.1

+23% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

66.7°F

+15.2°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

44.4 in

+0.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.6

+47% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$29.07

+5% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / SC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

6.00%

+3.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Charleston?: Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Charleston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Charleston?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).