Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 15% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,038
+34% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,331
+7% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,664
+1% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,919
+8% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$452,600
+4% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$76,174
+15% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$56,960
+16% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
37.5 yr
+1.4 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
55.6%
46.7%
+8.9 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
59.2%
+1.5 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.9 min
+3.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
272.7
+24% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,513.3
+23% in Portland, ME

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
47.3 in
+2.8 in in Portland, ME

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
28.6
+77% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$21.00
+23% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / ME)
6%
5.5%
+0.5 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
7.15%
+1.2 pp in ME

Charleston vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Portland?
They're close. Charleston, SC runs about $1,620 a month and Portland, ME about $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Portland?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).