Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 21% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$815
+48% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$900
+37% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,080
+36% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,251
+40% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$263,100
+44% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$70,778
+21% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$51,740
+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
36.4 yr
+0.3 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
55.6%
58.1%
+2.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
46.2%
+11.5 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.3 min
+4.5 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
483.2
+35% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,395.7
+18% in Huntsville, AL

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
62.1°F
+4.6°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
54.3 in
+9.9 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
16.4
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$24.06
+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.00%
+1.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Huntsville?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).