Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Eugene?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (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 Eugene?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Eugene?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Charleston vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Eugene, OR 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 $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 29% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,011

+36% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,080

+24% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,411

+16% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,674

+19% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$435,400

+7% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$63,836

+29% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$49,680

+1% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.4 yr

+0.7 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

47.6%

+8.0 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

44.2%

+13.5 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

18.6 min

+5.2 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

319.6

+11% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

2,035.1

3,348.9

+65% in Eugene, OR

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

52.5°F

+14.2°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

46.1 in

+1.7 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Eugene, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.3

+1% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$20.59

+25% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

9.90%

+3.9 pp in OR

Charleston vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Eugene?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (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 Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Eugene?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).