Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Nashua?

Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Nashua?

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

Charleston vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 3% higher in Nashua, NH. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,127

+29% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,383

+3% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,699

+1% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,951

+6% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$373,100

+20% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$92,457

+3% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$56,530

+15% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

39.7 yr

+3.6 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

55.6%

56.4%

+0.8 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

40.5%

+17.2 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

25.3 min

+1.5 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

164.9

+54% in Charleston, SC

Property Crime

2,035.1

1,269

+38% 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

49.2°F

+17.5°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

44.6 in

+0.2 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

27.0

+74% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$21.67

+25% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / NH)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Nashua?: Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Nashua?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).