Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK — about 20% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Fairbanks, AK

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$883
+44% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,076
+25% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,428
+15% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$2,019
+3% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$255,700
+45% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$72,077
+20% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$61,810
+26% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
28.6 yr
+7.5 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
40.5%
+15.1 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
26.5%
+31.2 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
14.1 min
+9.7 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
726.1
+102% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,504.2
+72% in Fairbanks, AK

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
27.7°F
+39.0°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
10.8 in
+33.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.21/gal
+32% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
28.2
+81% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$17.35
+40% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Fairbanks, AK
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Fairbanks, AK
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / AK)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Fairbanks — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Fairbanks?
Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Fairbanks?
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 Fairbanks.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Fairbanks?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Fairbanks under Alaska's (no state income tax 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).