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Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Cost of living in Dorchester County, SC

Part of the Charleston Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,755/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 164,322 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,644 44%
Federal tax $557 15%
Healthcare $480 13%
Transport $320 9%
Groceries $318 8%
Energy $204 5%
State tax $177 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Dorchester County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,583
per month
1 bedroom
$1,644
per month
2 bedroom
$1,820
per month
3 bedroom
$2,255
per month
4 bedroom
$2,653
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Dorchester County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$76,896
per year
Individual earnings
$44,090
per year
Per capita
$37,279
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Dorchester County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$294,400
Annual property tax
$1,710

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Dorchester 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 Dorchester County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
11.3%

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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
31.0 min
Drive alone
80.2%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
9.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Dorchester County

What it costs to live in Dorchester County each month.

Single person
$3,755
per month
  • Rent $1,644
  • Energy $204
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $318
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $557
  • State tax $177
Couple
$5,222
per month
  • Rent $1,820
  • Energy $245
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $527
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $929
  • State tax $352
Family
$7,787
per month
  • Rent $2,255
  • Energy $306
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $800
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $929
  • State tax $352

Frequently asked questions about Dorchester County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Dorchester County?

In Dorchester County, SC, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,644 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,820 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,255 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Dorchester County?

In Dorchester County, SC, the average household income is $76,896 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $44,090 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Dorchester County?

The estimated cost of living in Dorchester County, SC is approximately $3,755 per month for a single person, $5,222 for a couple, $7,787 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Dorchester County?

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

Is Dorchester County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Dorchester County, SC would need approximately $3,755 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $76,896 per year ($6,408 per month). Dorchester County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Dorchester County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Dorchester County, SC is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 11.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Dorchester County?

The average home value in Dorchester County, SC is $294,400, with average annual property taxes of $1,710, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Dorchester County compare to other areas?

You can compare Dorchester County, SC with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Dorchester County is in the Charleston-North Charleston, 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 Dorchester 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