Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Columbus?

Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% 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 $42,000 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 Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 27% 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

Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,014

+36% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,059

+26% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,276

+24% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,369

+34% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$234,500

+50% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$65,327

+27% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$51,340

+4% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

33.0 yr

+3.1 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

44.3%

+11.3 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

38.2%

+19.5 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

21.8 min

+2.0 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

485.2

+35% in Columbus, OH

Property Crime

2,035.1

3,093.9

+52% in Columbus, 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

40.1 in

+4.3 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.18/gal

+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

19.5

+21% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Charleston, SC

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Columbus, OH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OH)

5.75%

+0.3 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

2.75%

+3.3 pp in SC

Charleston vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Columbus?: Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% 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 $42,000 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 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).