Cost of Living in South Carolina
Updated November 2026 · population 5,296,225
South Carolina prices are 6.3% below the US average (index 93.7), ranking 33rd most expensive of 51 states and DC; housing is the biggest saving at 80.5, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,528 a month.
Prices by category
South Carolina price index by category, US average = 100: All items 93.7, Housing (rents) 80.5, Goods 96.3, Utilities 88.3, Other services 98.3
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| South Carolina (whole state) | 93.7 |
| Metropolitan areas of South Carolina | 94.8 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of South Carolina | 86.2 |
Cities in South Carolina
Select a column heading to sort.
| Charleston | 154,338 | 101.9 | $3,096 | $5,873 | $1,722 | $509,700 |
| Columbia | 139,643 | 94.1 | $2,565 | $4,903 | $1,204 | $264,300 |
| North Charleston | 119,913 | 98.1 | $2,777 | $5,228 | $1,430 | $302,200 |
| Mount Pleasant | 93,993 | 107.6 | $3,380 | $6,252 | $2,159 | $748,500 |
| Rock Hill | 75,259 | 95.4 | $2,724 | $4,987 | $1,341 | $295,100 |
| Greenville | 72,935 | 95.3 | $2,699 | $5,210 | $1,312 | $487,500 |
| Summerville | 51,654 | 99.4 | $2,693 | $5,513 | $1,526 | $328,100 |
| Spartanburg | 38,910 | 92.7 | $2,403 | $4,653 | $1,099 | $203,700 |
| Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | 94.9 | $2,757 | $4,972 | $1,261 | $388,800 |
| Bluffton | 33,157 | 105.2 | $3,491 | $6,368 | $2,256 | $492,100 |
| Anderson | 30,051 | 91.2 | $2,281 | $4,725 | $975 | $218,200 |
| Beaufort | 13,747 | 93.3 | $2,572 | $4,970 | $1,212 | $345,400 |
Metro areas in South Carolina
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 101.0 | 119.8 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 98.0 | 101.2 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 97.3 | 97.6 |
| Columbia, SC | 93.7 | 79.5 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 93.6 | 83.1 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 93.3 | 76.8 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 91.9 | 70.6 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 91.1 | 68.0 |
| Sumter, SC | 88.0 | 60.8 |
| Florence, SC | 86.8 | 52.4 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of South Carolina.
Modelled monthly budget at South Carolina average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for South Carolina (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $911 | $10,932 | 36% |
| Utilities | $255 | $3,060 | 10% |
| Food at home | $272 | $3,264 | 11% |
| Transportation | $583 | $6,996 | 23% |
| Health care | $345 | $4,140 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $162 | $1,944 | 6% |
| Total | $2,528 | $30,336 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for South Carolina (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $940 | $11,280 | 24% |
| Utilities | $403 | $4,836 | 10% |
| Food at home | $502 | $6,024 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,154 | $13,848 | 29% |
| Health care | $640 | $7,680 | 16% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $319 | $3,828 | 8% |
| Total | $3,958 | $47,496 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for South Carolina (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,015 | $12,180 | 21% |
| Utilities | $491 | $5,892 | 10% |
| Food at home | $715 | $8,580 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,533 | $18,396 | 32% |
| Health care | $597 | $7,164 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $411 | $4,932 | 9% |
| Total | $4,762 | $57,144 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
15.76¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +4.0% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)
$3.69/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +30.9% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the South region rose +3.4% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 91.5 | 90.9 | 93.6 | 93.3 | 93.5 | 93.7 |
Change over the period: +2.3 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Carolina an expensive state to live in?
South Carolina has a cost of living index of 93.7 (US = 100), 6.3% below the US average. It ranks 33rd of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 80.5 (rank 31), goods 96.3, utilities 88.3 and other services 98.3. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in South Carolina?
At South Carolina state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,528 for a single adult, $3,958 for a couple and $4,762 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 94.8 and nonmetro areas 86.2.
What is the median rent and home value in South Carolina?
The median gross rent in South Carolina is $1,180 a month and the median home value is $259,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 31.1% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 45.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, South region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology