Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 40% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,159
+27% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,275
+11% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,473
+13% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,636
+21% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$249,000
+47% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$53,771
+40% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$60,060
+22% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
31.9 yr
+4.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
28.4%
+27.2 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
37.7%
+20.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
21.0 min
+2.8 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
536.3
+49% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,601.6
+77% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+14.5°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
47.1 in
+2.7 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
24.3
+56% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.33
+20% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.99%
+1.0 pp in CT

Charleston vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or New Haven?
New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or New Haven?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).