Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO — about 8% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Colorado Springs, CO

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$998
+37% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,305
+9% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,504
+11% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,881
+9% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$420,700
+10% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$83,198
+8% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$52,710
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
61.3%
+5.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
41.9%
+15.8 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
22.8 min
+1.0 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
722.1
+101% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,488.7
+71% in Colorado Springs, CO

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
49.0°F
+17.7°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
16.5 in
+27.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.25/gal
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Colorado.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Mountain Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
16.2
+0% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$11.92
+56% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CO)
6%
2.9%
+3.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.40%
+1.6 pp in SC

Charleston vs Colorado Springs — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Colorado Springs?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $52,000 in Colorado Springs.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Colorado Springs?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Colorado Springs under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).