Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Davenport

Iowa

$960/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 $960 in Davenport, IA. Overall, Davenport, IA is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $64,497 in Davenport, IA — about 28% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Davenport, IA

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$726
+54% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$777
+46% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$962
+43% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,117
+46% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$162,900
+65% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$64,497
+28% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$48,550
+1% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.8 yr
+1.7 yr in Davenport, IA
Homeownership
55.6%
63.0%
+7.4 pp in Davenport, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
30.0%
+27.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.7 min
+5.1 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
581.4
+62% in Davenport, IA
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,559.6
+75% in Davenport, IA

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
49.3°F
+17.4°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
36.0 in
+8.4 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.9
+2% in Davenport, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$22.16
+24% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Davenport, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Davenport, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Davenport, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Davenport, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / IA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
3.80%
+2.2 pp in SC

Charleston vs Davenport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Davenport?
Davenport, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $960 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Davenport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $31,000 in Davenport.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Davenport?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Davenport under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% 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).