Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$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 Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL 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 $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 21% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,242
+21% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,324
+7% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,673
+1% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,729
+17% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$375,300
+20% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$71,302
+21% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$48,940
+0% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
35.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
50.2%
+5.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
44.6%
+13.1 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
24.7 min
+0.9 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
443.2
+24% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
2,035.1
1,473.2
+28% in Charleston, SC

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
73.4°F
+6.7°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
46.3 in
+1.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
15.2
+6% in Charleston, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.35
$23.62
+14% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Tampa?
Tampa, FL 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 Tampa?
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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Tampa?
Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).