Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Frederick?

Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Frederick?

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

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Frederick?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Frederick Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/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 $1,640 in Frederick, MD. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Frederick, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $95,150 in Frederick, MD — about 5% higher in Frederick, MD. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Frederick, MD

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,658

+5% in Frederick, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,418

+1% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,661

+1% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,863

+10% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$365,200

+22% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$95,150

+6% in Frederick, MD

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$71,060

+45% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

37.1 yr

+1.0 yr in Frederick, MD

Homeownership

55.6%

59.2%

+3.6 pp in Frederick, MD

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

41.8%

+15.9 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

30.1 min

+6.3 min in Frederick, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

406

+13% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

2,035.1

1,696.3

+17% in Charleston, SC

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

52.1°F

+14.6°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

—

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

21.8

+35% in Frederick, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$18.94

+31% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / MD)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

6.50%

+0.5 pp in MD

Charleston vs Frederick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Frederick?: Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Frederick, MD's $1,640, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Frederick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $57,000 in Frederick.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Frederick?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Frederick under Maryland's (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% 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).