Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,060 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 28% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — — vs TARC (2026).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Charleston vs Louisville — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Louisville?
- Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Louisville?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $35,000 in Louisville.
- Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Louisville?
- Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).