Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/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 $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Charleston, SC is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 7% higher in South Burlington, VT. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,557
+1% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,533
+7% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,805
+7% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$2,356
+13% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$399,600
+15% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$97,229
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$60,020
+22% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
38.8 yr
+2.7 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
55.6%
60.1%
+4.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
65.1%
+7.4 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
23.8 min
18.9 min
+4.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
239.4
+33% in Charleston, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
4,446
+118% in South Burlington, VT

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
46.0°F
+20.7°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
36.8 in
+7.6 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
24.4
+57% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$26.07
+10% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / VT)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
8.75%
+2.8 pp in VT

Charleston vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or South Burlington?
Charleston, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or South Burlington?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).