Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 31% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$707
+55% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$730
+49% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$956
+43% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,287
+38% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$191,500
+59% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$62,546
+31% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$49,940
+2% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.7 yr
+0.4 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
55.9%
+0.3 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
25.5%
+32.2 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.9 min
+4.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
501.7
+40% in Green Bay, WI
Property Crime
2,035.1
1,331.2
+35% 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
44.3°F
+22.4°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
29.5 in
+14.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Green Bay, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
19.7
+22% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$11.79
+57% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Green Bay, WI
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 / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
7.65%
+1.7 pp in WI

Charleston vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Green Bay?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Green Bay?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).