Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 56% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$678
+57% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$732
+49% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$903
+46% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,081
+48% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$94,100
+80% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$39,187
+56% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$50,140
+2% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.3 yr
+0.2 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
55.6%
41.2%
+14.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
21.3%
+36.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
22.9 min
+0.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
1,582
+341% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
2,035.1
4,531.3
+123% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
66.7°F
52.7°F
+14.0°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
36.4 in
+8.1 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
19.5
+21% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$22.83
+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
2.75%
+3.3 pp in SC

Charleston vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Cleveland?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Cleveland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Cleveland?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).