Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 38% higher in Charleston, SC. Both cities are in South Carolina, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Charleston vs Columbia — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Columbia?
- Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Columbia?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $41,000 in Columbia.
- Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Columbia?
- Neither — both are in South Carolina, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).