Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 14% 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
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,018
+36% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,219
+15% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,432
+15% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,766
+15% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$346,900
+26% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$76,983
+14% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$58,080
+18% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
31.8 yr
+4.3 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
46.6%
+9.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
59.2%
+1.5 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.4 min
+4.4 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
259.5
+28% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
1,884.5
+7% 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
46.5°F
+20.2°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
34.5 in
+9.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
19.7
+22% in Madison, 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 Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Madison, 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 Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Madison?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Madison?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Madison 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).