Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Grand Rapids

Michigan

$1,200/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 $1,200 in Grand Rapids, MI. Overall, Grand Rapids, MI is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $65,526 in Grand Rapids, MI — about 27% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Grand Rapids, MI

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$992
+37% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$964
+33% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,206
+28% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,421
+32% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$225,500
+52% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$65,526
+27% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$47,570
+3% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
32.1 yr
+4.0 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
54.6%
+1.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
40.1%
+17.6 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.4 min
+4.4 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
910.1
+154% in Grand Rapids, MI
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,506.2
+23% in Grand Rapids, MI

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
49.1°F
+17.6°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
38.3 in
+6.1 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Charleston, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
23.0
+48% in Grand Rapids, MI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$19.72
+32% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Grand Rapids, MI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Grand Rapids, MI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Grand Rapids, MI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Grand Rapids, MI
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 / MI)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.25%
+1.8 pp in SC

Charleston vs Grand Rapids — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Grand Rapids?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $39,000 in Grand Rapids.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Grand Rapids?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Grand Rapids under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).