Cost of living in South Carolina
Rent, taxes, earnings and more across all 46 South Carolina counties.
Last updated May 21, 2026
Taxes in South Carolina
State income, sales and local tax rates.
South Carolina has a graduated state income tax ranging from 0% to 6.4%.
Use our salary calculator to see your take-home pay in South Carolina
Tax information is for general reference. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation.
Rent in South Carolina
The average one-bedroom rent across South Carolina is $969/mo. Rent varies from $711/mo in Abbeville County to $1,647/mo in York County.
Cheapest places to live in South Carolina
Top 10 counties by estimated single-person monthly cost.
- #1 Bamberg County$2,475/moRent$711/mo Income$43,206/yr#1 Bamberg County $2,475/mo $711/mo $43,206/yr
- #2 Clarendon County$2,548/moRent$711/mo Income$48,887/yr#2 Clarendon County $2,548/mo $711/mo $48,887/yr
- #3 Marlboro County$2,556/moRent$711/mo Income$36,293/yr#3 Marlboro County $2,556/mo $711/mo $36,293/yr
- #4 Lee County$2,557/moRent$711/mo Income$44,145/yr#4 Lee County $2,557/mo $711/mo $44,145/yr
- #5 Dillon County$2,588/moRent$749/mo Income$44,038/yr#5 Dillon County $2,588/mo $749/mo $44,038/yr
- #6 Williamsburg County$2,602/moRent$711/mo Income$43,471/yr#6 Williamsburg County $2,602/mo $711/mo $43,471/yr
- #7 Barnwell County$2,629/moRent$711/mo Income$41,800/yr#7 Barnwell County $2,629/mo $711/mo $41,800/yr
- #8 Chesterfield County$2,630/moRent$711/mo Income$47,620/yr#8 Chesterfield County $2,630/mo $711/mo $47,620/yr
- #9 Cherokee County$2,634/moRent$718/mo Income$49,047/yr#9 Cherokee County $2,634/mo $718/mo $49,047/yr
- #10 Hampton County$2,634/moRent$800/mo Income$43,059/yr#10 Hampton County $2,634/mo $800/mo $43,059/yr
Rankings include rent, utilities, groceries, transport, healthcare and taxes. See our methodology.
Most expensive places to live in South Carolina
Top 10 counties by estimated single-person monthly cost.
- #1 Charleston County$3,856/moRent$1,644/mo Income$84,320/yr#1 Charleston County $3,856/mo $1,644/mo $84,320/yr
- #2 York County$3,821/moRent$1,647/mo Income$83,060/yr#2 York County $3,821/mo $1,647/mo $83,060/yr
- #3 Berkeley County$3,783/moRent$1,644/mo Income$82,327/yr#3 Berkeley County $3,783/mo $1,644/mo $82,327/yr
- #4 Dorchester County$3,755/moRent$1,644/mo Income$76,896/yr#4 Dorchester County $3,755/mo $1,644/mo $76,896/yr
- #5 Beaufort County$3,666/moRent$1,646/mo Income$84,819/yr#5 Beaufort County $3,666/mo $1,646/mo $84,819/yr
- #6 Lexington County$3,288/moRent$1,172/mo Income$75,014/yr#6 Lexington County $3,288/mo $1,172/mo $75,014/yr
- #7 Greenville County$3,283/moRent$1,180/mo Income$74,624/yr#7 Greenville County $3,283/mo $1,180/mo $74,624/yr
- #8 Calhoun County$3,128/moRent$1,172/mo Income$56,690/yr#8 Calhoun County $3,128/mo $1,172/mo $56,690/yr
- #9 Lancaster County$3,128/moRent$987/mo Income$74,751/yr#9 Lancaster County $3,128/mo $987/mo $74,751/yr
- #10 Richland County$3,127/moRent$1,172/mo Income$61,699/yr#10 Richland County $3,127/mo $1,172/mo $61,699/yr
Highest earning counties in South Carolina
Top 10 by average household income.
- #1 Beaufort County$84,819/yrCost$3,666/mo Rent$1,646/mo#1 Beaufort County $84,819/yr $3,666/mo $1,646/mo
- #2 Charleston County$84,320/yrCost$3,856/mo Rent$1,644/mo#2 Charleston County $84,320/yr $3,856/mo $1,644/mo
- #3 York County$83,060/yrCost$3,821/mo Rent$1,647/mo#3 York County $83,060/yr $3,821/mo $1,647/mo
- #4 Berkeley County$82,327/yrCost$3,783/mo Rent$1,644/mo#4 Berkeley County $82,327/yr $3,783/mo $1,644/mo
- #5 Dorchester County$76,896/yrCost$3,755/mo Rent$1,644/mo#5 Dorchester County $76,896/yr $3,755/mo $1,644/mo
- #6 Lexington County$75,014/yrCost$3,288/mo Rent$1,172/mo#6 Lexington County $75,014/yr $3,288/mo $1,172/mo
- #7 Lancaster County$74,751/yrCost$3,128/mo Rent$987/mo#7 Lancaster County $74,751/yr $3,128/mo $987/mo
- #8 Greenville County$74,624/yrCost$3,283/mo Rent$1,180/mo#8 Greenville County $74,624/yr $3,283/mo $1,180/mo
- #9 Aiken County$67,940/yrCost$3,066/mo Rent$1,039/mo#9 Aiken County $67,940/yr $3,066/mo $1,039/mo
- #10 Edgefield County$67,092/yrCost$3,018/mo Rent$1,039/mo#10 Edgefield County $67,092/yr $3,018/mo $1,039/mo
All 46 counties in South Carolina
Sorted by population. Type to filter.
- Greenville County Pop537,575 Rent$1,180/mo Income$74,624/yr Cost$3,283/mo
- Richland County Pop418,725 Rent$1,172/mo Income$61,699/yr Cost$3,127/mo
- Charleston County Pop414,711 Rent$1,644/mo Income$84,320/yr Cost$3,856/mo
- Horry County Pop368,937 Rent$1,199/mo Income$64,623/yr Cost$3,106/mo
- Spartanburg County Pop338,096 Rent$1,094/mo Income$64,195/yr Cost$3,118/mo
- Lexington County Pop300,370 Rent$1,172/mo Income$75,014/yr Cost$3,288/mo
- York County Pop288,559 Rent$1,647/mo Income$83,060/yr Cost$3,821/mo
- Berkeley County Pop238,723 Rent$1,644/mo Income$82,327/yr Cost$3,783/mo
- Anderson County Pop207,218 Rent$792/mo Income$64,683/yr Cost$2,792/mo
- Beaufort County Pop192,123 Rent$1,646/mo Income$84,819/yr Cost$3,666/mo
- Aiken County Pop171,949 Rent$1,039/mo Income$67,940/yr Cost$3,066/mo
- Dorchester County Pop164,322 Rent$1,644/mo Income$76,896/yr Cost$3,755/mo
- Florence County Pop136,921 Rent$862/mo Income$56,650/yr Cost$2,830/mo
- Pickens County Pop132,604 Rent$1,180/mo Income$59,411/yr Cost$3,029/mo
- Sumter County Pop104,853 Rent$951/mo Income$55,990/yr Cost$2,909/mo
- Lancaster County Pop100,905 Rent$987/mo Income$74,751/yr Cost$3,128/mo
- Orangeburg County Pop83,531 Rent$792/mo Income$43,214/yr Cost$2,656/mo
- Oconee County Pop79,566 Rent$745/mo Income$60,193/yr Cost$2,694/mo
- Greenwood County Pop69,329 Rent$786/mo Income$50,635/yr Cost$2,756/mo
- Laurens County Pop67,904 Rent$711/mo Income$55,517/yr Cost$2,640/mo
- Kershaw County Pop66,924 Rent$800/mo Income$64,343/yr Cost$2,804/mo
- Georgetown County Pop64,200 Rent$908/mo Income$66,734/yr Cost$2,843/mo
- Darlington County Pop62,754 Rent$824/mo Income$47,419/yr Cost$2,704/mo
- Cherokee County Pop56,299 Rent$718/mo Income$49,047/yr Cost$2,634/mo
- Chesterfield County Pop43,575 Rent$711/mo Income$47,620/yr Cost$2,630/mo
- Colleton County Pop38,623 Rent$757/mo Income$48,779/yr Cost$2,671/mo
- Newberry County Pop38,121 Rent$766/mo Income$59,670/yr Cost$2,733/mo
- Chester County Pop32,177 Rent$840/mo Income$51,216/yr Cost$2,759/mo
- Clarendon County Pop31,037 Rent$711/mo Income$48,887/yr Cost$2,548/mo
- Jasper County Pop30,658 Rent$1,136/mo Income$63,503/yr Cost$3,043/mo
- Williamsburg County Pop30,517 Rent$711/mo Income$43,471/yr Cost$2,602/mo
- Marion County Pop28,900 Rent$843/mo Income$34,501/yr Cost$2,671/mo
- Dillon County Pop28,031 Rent$749/mo Income$44,038/yr Cost$2,588/mo
- Union County Pop26,990 Rent$711/mo Income$41,200/yr Cost$2,641/mo
- Edgefield County Pop26,508 Rent$1,039/mo Income$67,092/yr Cost$3,018/mo
- Marlboro County Pop26,285 Rent$711/mo Income$36,293/yr Cost$2,556/mo
- Abbeville County Pop24,352 Rent$711/mo Income$52,112/yr Cost$2,674/mo
- Fairfield County Pop20,741 Rent$1,172/mo Income$46,972/yr Cost$3,119/mo
- Barnwell County Pop20,565 Rent$711/mo Income$41,800/yr Cost$2,629/mo
- Saluda County Pop18,958 Rent$1,172/mo Income$52,957/yr Cost$3,106/mo
- Hampton County Pop18,555 Rent$800/mo Income$43,059/yr Cost$2,634/mo
- Lee County Pop16,330 Rent$711/mo Income$44,145/yr Cost$2,557/mo
- Calhoun County Pop14,150 Rent$1,172/mo Income$56,690/yr Cost$3,128/mo
- Bamberg County Pop13,164 Rent$711/mo Income$43,206/yr Cost$2,475/mo
- McCormick County Pop9,701 Rent$741/mo Income$55,344/yr Cost$2,743/mo
- Allendale County Pop7,738 Rent$843/mo Income$31,603/yr Cost$2,676/mo
Compare any two areas in South Carolina
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about South Carolina
Common questions about cost of living, taxes and rent.
What is the cost of living in South Carolina?
The average cost of living in South Carolina is approximately $2,924 per month for a single person. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare and taxes. Costs range from $2,475/mo in Bamberg County to $3,856/mo in Charleston County.
What is the average rent in South Carolina?
The average one-bedroom rent in South Carolina is $969 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data across all 46 counties.
What is the average salary in South Carolina?
The average household income in South Carolina is $57,006 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Does South Carolina have state income tax?
Yes, South Carolina has a graduated income tax ranging from 0% to 6.4%.
What is the sales tax in South Carolina?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in South Carolina averages 7.44%. The state rate is 6.00% with an average local addition of 1.44%.
What are the cheapest places to live in South Carolina?
The cheapest counties to live in South Carolina based on overall monthly costs are: 1. Bamberg County ($2,475/mo), 2. Clarendon County ($2,548/mo), 3. Marlboro County ($2,556/mo), 4. Lee County ($2,557/mo), 5. Dillon County ($2,588/mo).
What are the most expensive places to live in South Carolina?
The most expensive counties to live in South Carolina based on overall monthly costs are: 1. Charleston County ($3,856/mo), 2. York County ($3,821/mo), 3. Berkeley County ($3,783/mo), 4. Dorchester County ($3,755/mo), 5. Beaufort County ($3,666/mo).
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About this data
All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources.
- U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates)
- HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025
- Energy Information Administration (EIA)
- Tax Foundation state and local rates