Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Columbus?

Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Columbus?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 37% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$826

+48% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$875

+39% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$991

+41% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,221

+41% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$182,300

+61% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$56,622

+37% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$43,540

+11% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

50.2%

+5.4 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

29.7%

+28.0 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

20.2 min

+3.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

612.3

+71% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

2,035.1

2,273.4

+12% in Columbus, GA

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

65.7°F

+1.0°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

46.8 in

+2.3 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

15.8

+2% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$33.28

+22% in Columbus, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / GA)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

5.19%

+0.8 pp in SC

Charleston vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Columbus?: Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Columbus?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).