Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Rochester?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 48% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$750

+53% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$857

+40% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,114

+34% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,240

+40% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$120,600

+74% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$46,628

+48% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$51,210

+4% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

33.5 yr

+2.6 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

37.2%

+18.4 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

29.9%

+27.8 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

18.9 min

+4.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

690

+92% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

2,035.1

3,533.4

+74% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+18.5°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

34.3 in

+10.1 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.04/gal

+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

29.9

+85% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$22.74

+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / NY)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

10.90%

+4.9 pp in NY

Charleston vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Rochester?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).