Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Evansville

Indiana

$950/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 $950 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Evansville, IN 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 $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 42% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$741
+53% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$768
+46% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,022
+39% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,167
+44% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$129,100
+72% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$52,251
+42% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$46,540
+5% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
38.1 yr
+2.0 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
55.6%
53.9%
+1.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
22.3%
+35.4 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
1,210.5
+237% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,716.2
+83% in Evansville, IN

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
56.4°F
+10.3°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
45.3 in
+0.9 in in Evansville, IN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Evansville, IN

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
18.1
+12% in Evansville, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$13.70
+50% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Evansville, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Evansville, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Evansville, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Evansville, IN
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 / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
2.95%
+3.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Evansville?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (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 Evansville?
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 Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Evansville?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).