Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Tacoma?

Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Tacoma?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 7% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,178

+25% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,332

+7% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$1,693

+1% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$2,094

+1% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$454,600

+3% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$83,857

+7% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$72,610

+48% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

37.3 yr

+1.2 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

55.6%

56.5%

+0.9 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

33.5%

+24.2 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

29.0 min

+5.2 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

1,064.4

+197% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

2,035.1

5,695.2

+180% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+14.6°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

43.0 in

+1.4 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.12/gal

+33% in Tacoma, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

14.9

+8% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$20.41

+25% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charleston, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Tacoma, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Tacoma, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Tacoma?: Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Tacoma?: 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 Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Tacoma?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).