SC93 Cities • 2026 Data

Cost of Living in South Carolina

Explore cost of living data for 93 cities in South Carolina. Compare housing, rent, groceries, healthcare, and utility costs with detailed city-by-city breakdowns.

Cost Index
100.0
Average
Avg Rent
$1,196
/month
State Tax
6.4%
income tax
Avg Income
$N/A
/year
Cities
93
tracked

All Cities in South Carolina(93 of 93)

Aiken

-9%
Rent$1,252 / month
Home Price$417,153
Housing
-22%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Anderson

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Arcadia Lakes

+2%
Rent$1,735 / month
Home Price$578,089
Housing
+8%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Awendaw

-18%
Rent$1,002 / month
Home Price$333,993
Housing
-37%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Aynor

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Batesburg-Leesville

-20%
Rent$652.06 / month
Home Price$217,269
Housing
-59%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Beaufort

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Belton

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Bethune

-23%
Rent$593.17 / month
Home Price$197,648
Housing
-63%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Bluffton

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Blythewood

+7%
Rent$1,755 / month
Home Price$584,613
Housing
+9%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Bonneau

-25%
Rent$731.54 / month
Home Price$243,754
Housing
-54%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Camden

-7%
Rent$1,294 / month
Home Price$431,040
Housing
-19%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Cameron

-13%
Rent$966.14 / month
Home Price$321,921
Housing
-40%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Cayce

-15%
Rent$849.03 / month
Home Price$282,900
Housing
-47%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Central

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Chapin

-10%
Rent$983.14 / month
Home Price$327,586
Housing
-39%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Charleston

-4%
Rent$1,536 / month
Home Price$511,694
Housing
-4%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Clemson

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Clinton

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Columbia

-10%
Rent$1,125 / month
Home Price$374,957
Housing
-30%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Conway

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Cross Hill

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Easley

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Eastover

-25%
Rent$522.24 / month
Home Price$174,012
Housing
-67%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Folly Beach

+17%
Rent$2,552 / month
Home Price$850,230
Housing
+59%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Forest Acres

-18%
Rent$1,002 / month
Home Price$333,787
Housing
-38%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Fountain Inn

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Gaston

-19%
Rent$643.16 / month
Home Price$214,304
Housing
-60%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Gilbert

-14%
Rent$956.50 / month
Home Price$318,711
Housing
-40%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Goose Creek

-14%
Rent$1,028 / month
Home Price$342,526
Housing
-36%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Gray Court

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Greenville

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Greer

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Hardeeville

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Hilton Head Island

+2%
Rent$1,670 / month
Home Price$556,560
Housing
+4%
Groceries
-0%
View Details

Hollywood

+3%
Rent$1,477 / month
Home Price$492,176
Housing
-8%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Honea Path

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Hopkins

-19%
Rent$637.45 / month
Home Price$212,402
Housing
-60%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Irmo

-10%
Rent$953.09 / month
Home Price$317,573
Housing
-41%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Isle of Palms

+47%
Rent$3,725 / month
Home Price$1,241,313
Housing
+132%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Iva

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Joanna

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Kiawah Island

+65%
Rent$4,895 / month
Home Price$1,631,133
Housing
+205%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Ladson

-18%
Rent$848.34 / month
Home Price$282,671
Housing
-47%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Laurens

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Lexington

-8%
Rent$1,196 / month
Home Price$398,616
Housing
-25%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Liberty

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Lincolnville

-26%
Rent$648.47 / month
Home Price$216,073
Housing
-60%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Little River

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Loris

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Lugoff

-18%
Rent$866.72 / month
Home Price$288,795
Housing
-46%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Mauldin

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

McClellanville

-2%
Rent$1,601 / month
Home Price$533,420
Housing
-0%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Meggett

-4%
Rent$1,701 / month
Home Price$566,624
Housing
+6%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Moncks Corner

-20%
Rent$942.15 / month
Home Price$313,929
Housing
-41%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Mount Pleasant

+12%
Rent$2,159 / month
Home Price$719,306
Housing
+35%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Murrells Inlet

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Myrtle Beach

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Nichols

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Norris

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

North Charleston

-18%
Rent$945.85 / month
Home Price$315,162
Housing
-41%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

North Myrtle Beach

-7%
Rent$1,129 / month
Home Price$376,025
Housing
-30%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Pelion

-15%
Rent$829.86 / month
Home Price$276,512
Housing
-48%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Pelzer

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Pendleton

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Pickens

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Piedmont

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Pinopolis

-5%
Rent$1,547 / month
Home Price$515,309
Housing
-4%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Port Royal

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Ravenel

-22%
Rent$776.05 / month
Home Price$258,583
Housing
-52%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Reevesville

-28%
Rent$665.54 / month
Home Price$221,762
Housing
-58%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Ridge Spring

-22%
Rent$622.40 / month
Home Price$207,387
Housing
-61%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Ridgeland

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Ridgeville

-25%
Rent$625.20 / month
Home Price$208,319
Housing
-61%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Ridgeway

-17%
Rent$961.23 / month
Home Price$320,285
Housing
-40%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Saluda

-23%
Rent$581.52 / month
Home Price$193,764
Housing
-64%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Seabrook Island

+24%
Rent$2,905 / month
Home Price$967,829
Housing
+81%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Simpsonville

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Six Mile

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

St. Matthews

-21%
Rent$711.88 / month
Home Price$237,201
Housing
-56%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

St. Stephen

-34%
Rent$550.13 / month
Home Price$183,306
Housing
-66%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Starr

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Summerville

-16%
Rent$1,042 / month
Home Price$347,335
Housing
-35%
Groceries
+3%
View Details

Swansea

-19%
Rent$655.88 / month
Home Price$218,542
Housing
-59%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Taylors

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Travelers Rest

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Ward

-20%
Rent$621.79 / month
Home Price$207,185
Housing
-61%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Waterloo

-9%
Rent$1,173 / month
Home Price$390,981
Housing
-27%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

West Columbia

-14%
Rent$915.93 / month
Home Price$305,191
Housing
-43%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Williamston

-9%
Rent$1,161 / month
Home Price$386,708
Housing
-28%
Groceries
+2%
View Details

Winnsboro

-18%
Rent$795.46 / month
Home Price$265,051
Housing
-50%
Groceries
-1%
View Details

Yemassee

-3%
Rent$1,342 / month
Home Price$447,064
Housing
-16%
Groceries
+18%
View Details

Living in South Carolina: What to Know

South Carolina has a cost of living index of 100.0, meaning overall expenses are approximately in line with the national average. With 93 cities tracked in our database, the state offers a wide range of living situations from very affordable small towns to pricier metropolitan areas.

Housing is typically the largest expense category. Average rent in South Carolina is approximately $1,196 per month, with significant variation between urban centers and rural communities. Median home values average around $398,606 statewide.

The state income tax rate in South Carolina is 6.4%, which directly affects take-home pay. Factor this into salary comparisons when considering a move from states with different tax rates.

South Carolina Cost of Living FAQ

Common questions about living costs in South Carolina.

South Carolina has a cost of living index of 100.0 compared to the national average of 100. This means costs are approximately in line with national averages. The state has 93 cities tracked in our database with varying costs across urban and rural areas.
The average monthly rent in South Carolina is approximately $1,196 per month. Rent varies significantly by city — major metropolitan areas tend to have rents 30-60% higher than rural communities within the state. Our city-by-city breakdown below provides median rent, median home prices, and utility costs for every tracked city.
South Carolina has a state income tax rate of approximately 6.4%. This affects take-home pay significantly — on a $100,000 salary, you'd pay roughly $6,400 in state income taxes.
The most affordable cities in South Carolina include St. Stephen (-34% vs national average), Reevesville (-28% vs national average), Lincolnville (-26% vs national average). These cities offer significantly lower housing, grocery, and healthcare costs compared to national averages. Explore each city page for detailed expense breakdowns.
South Carolina offers average cost of living with 93 cities to choose from. Key factors to consider include housing costs (average rent ~$1,196/mo), job market, climate, and quality of life. Browse individual city pages below for specific cost breakdowns to help you decide.