Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$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 Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, 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 $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 33% 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
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$798
+49% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$782
+45% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$984
+42% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,100
+47% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$169,700
+64% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$60,293
+33% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$47,700
+3% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
62.2%
+6.6 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
28.5%
+29.2 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
21.4 min
+2.4 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
308.9
+14% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,245.4
+10% in Fort Wayne, 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
50.5°F
+16.2°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
38.3 in
+6.1 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
18.1
+12% in Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN 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 Fort Wayne?
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 Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Fort Wayne?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Fort Wayne 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).