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Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Cost of living in Chester County, SC

Part of the Charlotte Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,759/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 32,177 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $840 30%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $412 15%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $318 12%
Energy $204 7%
State tax $130 5%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Chester County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$835
per month
1 bedroom
$840
per month
2 bedroom
$1,051
per month
3 bedroom
$1,473
per month
4 bedroom
$1,610
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Chester County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$51,216
per year
Individual earnings
$35,272
per year
Per capita
$27,656
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Chester County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$143,800
Annual property tax
$846

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Chester County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$168
per month · 15.3¢/kWh
Natural gas
$36
per month
Annual total
$2,448
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Chester County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
11.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Chester County

State and local tax rates for South Carolina.

State income tax
6.4%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
7.4%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Chester County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
31.8 min
Drive alone
83.6%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
5.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Chester County

What it costs to live in Chester County each month.

Single person
$2,759
per month
  • Rent $840
  • Energy $204
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $318
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $412
  • State tax $130
Couple
$3,897
per month
  • Rent $1,051
  • Energy $245
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $527
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $510
  • State tax $215
Family
$6,449
per month
  • Rent $1,473
  • Energy $306
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $800
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $510
  • State tax $215

Frequently asked questions about Chester County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Chester County?

In Chester County, SC, a one-bedroom apartment averages $840 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,051 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,473 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Chester County?

In Chester County, SC, the average household income is $51,216 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $35,272 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Chester County?

The estimated cost of living in Chester County, SC is approximately $2,759 per month for a single person, $3,897 for a couple, $6,449 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Chester County?

The combined sales tax rate in Chester County, SC is 7.44%, which includes the South Carolina state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 1.44%.

Is Chester County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Chester County, SC would need approximately $2,759 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $51,216 per year ($4,268 per month). Chester County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Chester County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Chester County, SC is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 11.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Chester County?

The average home value in Chester County, SC is $143,800, with average annual property taxes of $846, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Chester County compare to other areas?

You can compare Chester County, SC with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Chester County is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area.

Other counties in South Carolina

Browse the full list of counties in South Carolina, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in South Carolina

Compare Chester County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources