Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Houston?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $46,000 in Houston.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Houston?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Houston Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 30% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Houston, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,142

+28% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,156

+19% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,375

+18% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,664

+20% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$253,400

+46% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$62,894

+30% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$49,410

+1% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.3 yr

+1.8 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

42.0%

+13.6 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

36.0%

+21.7 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

27.3 min

+3.5 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

1,153.8

+222% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

2,035.1

4,324.9

+113% in Houston, TX

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

70.3°F

+3.6°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

54.6 in

+10.2 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.52/gal

+9% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Houston METRO (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.4

+2% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$30.48

+11% in Houston, TX

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 / TX)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Houston?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Houston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Houston?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Houston under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).