Cost of Living: Columbia, SC vs Charleston, SC
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,143/mo in Columbia, SC versus $4,143/mo in Charleston, SC. In the model, rent is about 16.87% of gross in Columbia, SC versus 23.78% in Charleston, SC, so Columbia, SC tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Columbia, SC and Charleston, SC.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Charleston, SC
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Columbia, SC
- Lower home prices: Columbia, SC
- Higher median household income: Charleston, SC
Cost of Living Index
Columbia, SC: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Charleston, SC: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).
Median Rent
Columbia, SC: $1,100/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Charleston, SC: $1,551/mo
Median rent in Charleston, SC is $451/mo higher than in Columbia, SC.
Median Home Price
Columbia, SC: $243,500 · Charleston, SC: $469,100
Median home price in Charleston, SC is $225,600 higher than in Columbia, SC.
Median Household Income
Columbia, SC: $55,653 · Charleston, SC: $90,038
Charleston, SC has a higher median household income than Columbia, SC by $34,385.
Columbia, SC overview · Charleston, SC overview · Popular comparisons