Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Sioux Falls

South Dakota

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Sioux Falls, SD. Overall, Sioux Falls, SD is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $74,714 in Sioux Falls, SD — about 17% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; South Dakota has no state income tax and a 4.2% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Sioux Falls, SD

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$825
+48% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$870
+39% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,000
+41% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,237
+40% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$271,400
+42% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$74,714
+17% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$47,970
+2% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.1 yr
+1.0 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
60.0%
+4.4 pp in Sioux Falls, SD
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
37.4%
+20.3 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
17.0 min
+6.8 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
526.7
+47% in Sioux Falls, SD
Property Crime
2,035.1
2,927.1
+44% in Sioux Falls, SD

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
45.8°F
+20.9°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
26.4 in
+18.0 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Sioux Falls, SD

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
15.7
+3% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$10.95
+60% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charleston, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Sioux Falls, SD
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Sioux Falls, SD
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Sioux Falls, SD
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / SD)
6%
4.2%
+1.8 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Sioux Falls — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls, SD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Sioux Falls?
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 Sioux Falls.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Sioux Falls?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Sioux Falls under South Dakota's (no state income tax and a 4.2% 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).