Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/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 $970 in Idaho Falls, ID. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID — about 23% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Idaho Falls, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$818
+48% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$827
+42% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$957
+43% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,278
+38% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$298,600
+36% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$69,630
+23% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$46,800
+5% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
33.5 yr
+2.6 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
64.1%
+8.5 pp in Idaho Falls, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
31.0%
+26.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.2 min
+5.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
365.3
+2% in Idaho Falls, ID
Property Crime
2,035.1
1,235.5
+39% 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
44.2°F
+22.5°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
10.4 in
+34.0 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Idaho Falls, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
14.4
+8% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$11.33
+61% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Idaho Falls, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Idaho Falls, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Idaho Falls, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / ID)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.30%
+0.7 pp in SC

Charleston vs Idaho Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Idaho Falls?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Idaho Falls?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Idaho Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Idaho Falls?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Idaho Falls under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% 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).