Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Dallas?

Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (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 Dallas?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $51,000 in Dallas.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Dallas?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Dallas Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX. Overall, Dallas, TX 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 $67,760 in Dallas, TX — about 25% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Dallas, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,259

+20% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,280

+10% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,500

+11% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,559

+25% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$295,300

+37% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$67,760

+25% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$51,440

+5% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

33.4 yr

+2.7 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

42.4%

+13.2 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

37.4%

+20.3 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

26.0 min

+2.2 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

661.9

+84% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

2,035.1

3,412.9

+68% in Dallas, TX

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

67.2°F

+0.5°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

37.6 in

+6.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.4

+2% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$30.48

+11% in Dallas, TX

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 / TX)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Dallas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Dallas?: Dallas, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,480 (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 Dallas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $51,000 in Dallas.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Dallas?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Dallas under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).