Cost of Living in South Carolina

Living in South Carolina: what the numbers say

South Carolina uses graduated income tax brackets, so your marginal rate climbs as you earn more — from 2.0% on the first dollars to 5.2% at the top. Only income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate, but high earners still feel it, and it's the single biggest reason two people with the same salary keep very different amounts here.

Housing is where South Carolina is won or lost. At a median home price of $309,323 against a median household income of $72,350, homes cost about 4.3× yearly income — within reach for many dual-income households. Use the home and rent calculators below to see what your income supports here.

Day-to-day costs add up too: residential electricity in South Carolina runs about 16.18¢ per kilowatt-hour, one of the recurring bills the cost-of-living tools fold into a realistic monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is South Carolina an expensive state to live in?

It depends on your income and housing situation. South Carolina has graduated state income tax from 2.0% to 5.2% and a median home price of $309,323. The calculators on this page turn those figures into a number for your specific salary and household.

How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in South Carolina?

That varies with household size, whether you rent or own, and your lifestyle. Start with the South Carolina paycheck calculator to see your take-home pay, then the cost-of-living tools to compare it against local expenses.

Where do these South Carolina numbers come from?

Tax figures come from state and IRS sources, home values from Zillow, income and population from the US Census, and energy prices from the EIA — each shown with its date. See our methodology page for the full list and update schedule.