Cost of living in the Charleston Metro Area
3 counties across SC. Population: 817,756.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Charleston Metro Area
Average rent across the Charleston-North Charleston metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Charleston Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Charleston Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Charleston Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Charleston Metro Area
The Charleston-North Charleston metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Charleston SC$3,856/moPop414,711 Rent$1,644/mo Income$84,320/yrCharleston SC 414,711 $1,644/mo $84,320/yr $3,856/mo
- Berkeley County SC$3,783/moPop238,723 Rent$1,644/mo Income$82,327/yrBerkeley County SC 238,723 $1,644/mo $82,327/yr $3,783/mo
- Dorchester County SC$3,755/moPop164,322 Rent$1,644/mo Income$76,896/yrDorchester County SC 164,322 $1,644/mo $76,896/yr $3,755/mo
Compare counties in the Charleston Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Charleston Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Charleston Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area is approximately $3,814 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Charleston Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Charleston-North Charleston metro area is $1,644 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Charleston Metro Area?
Dorchester County, SC is the most affordable county in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area at approximately $3,755 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Charleston Metro Area?
Charleston County, SC is the most expensive county in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area at approximately $3,856 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Charleston Metro Area?
The Charleston-North Charleston metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Charleston, Berkeley County, Dorchester County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.