Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Portland?

They're close. Charleston, SC runs about $1,620 a month and Portland, OR 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Charleston vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$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, OR. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 1% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,294

+18% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,440

+1% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,741

+3% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$2,053

+1% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$557,600

+19% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$88,792

+1% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$60,690

+23% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

38.6 yr

+2.5 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

55.6%

52.8%

+2.8 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

53.5%

+4.2 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

24.6 min

+0.8 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

732.3

+104% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

2,035.1

5,609.4

+176% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+12.2°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

42.9 in

+1.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Portland, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.3

+1% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$20.59

+25% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

9.90%

+3.9 pp in OR

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, OR 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).