Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Oklahoma City, OK 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 $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 26% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$795
+50% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$882
+38% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,085
+36% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,356
+35% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$215,100
+54% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$66,702
+26% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$47,230
+4% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.0 yr
+1.1 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
59.1%
+3.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
34.0%
+23.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
22.2 min
+1.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
685.9
+91% in Oklahoma City, OK
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,929.1
+44% in Oklahoma City, OK

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
61.5°F
+5.2°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
36.5 in
+7.9 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Oklahoma City, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs EMBARK (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
13.4
+17% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$27.15
+1% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in SC

Charleston vs Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (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 Oklahoma City?
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 Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Oklahoma City?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Oklahoma City under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).