Cost of living in South Carolina
Prices in South Carolina are 6.3% below the US average (33rd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,657 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in South Carolina
| BEA RPP 2024 | South Carolina | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 80.5 | −19.5% |
| Utilities | 88.3 | −11.7% |
| Other services | 98.3 | −1.7% |
Metros in South Carolina
Metros whose principal city is in South Carolina. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 1,014,101 | 93.3 | $1,507 | $202 | $1,092 |
| Charleston, SC | 889,263 | 101.0 | $1,884 | $202 | $745 |
| Columbia, SC | 879,918 | 93.7 | $1,226 | $202 | $1,350 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 427,551 | 93.6 | $1,504 | $199 | $1,218 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 407,656 | 91.1 | $1,196 | $199 | $1,377 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 242,966 | 98.0 | $2,010 | $199 | $632 |
| Florence, SC | 201,392 | 86.8 | $1,121 | $199 | $1,489 |
| Sumter, SC | 105,067 | 88.0 | $1,338 | $199 | $1,453 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in South Carolina: Charlotte, NC-SC, Augusta, GA-SC.
Taxes in South Carolina (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| South Carolina income tax | $999 | $2,657 | $5,286 | $3,766 |
| South Carolina payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,446 | $4,911 | $7,330 | $8,451 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, South Carolina’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,657 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across South Carolina
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $117 | $7,450 | $134 |
| Toddler (2) | $117 | $7,450 | $134 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $127 | $8,086 | $136 |
| School-age (5–12) | $134 | $8,510 | $140 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $94 a week in Barnwell County to $222 in Georgetown County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 46 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | $242,800 | $1,637 | 0.67% |
| Jasper County | $325,500 | $1,852 | 0.57% |
| Chester County | $158,300 | $890 | 0.56% |
| Dorchester County | $329,300 | $1,851 | 0.56% |
| Union County | $103,600 | $579 | 0.56% |
| Laurens County | $170,600 | $698 | 0.41% |
| Calhoun County | $172,100 | $704 | 0.41% |
| Charleston County | $489,100 | $1,901 | 0.39% |
| Pickens County | $231,900 | $866 | 0.37% |
| Horry County | $287,700 | $944 | 0.33% |
Five highest and five lowest of 26 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from South Carolina
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 189,282 in, 134,497 out (net +54,785).
- North Carolina33,151 ±5,633
- New York18,324 ±5,214
- Florida17,992 ±3,862
- Georgia16,024 ±3,513
- California8,709 ±2,524
- Virginia8,638 ±2,406
- Texas8,157 ±2,881
- Pennsylvania7,391 ±1,838
- North Carolina29,982 ±4,618
- Georgia16,878 ±4,012
- Virginia12,665 ±2,634
- Florida9,304 ±2,219
- Texas8,106 ±2,986
- California6,955 ±1,938
- Ohio5,842 ±1,910
- New York5,749 ±1,738
Frequently asked questions
Is South Carolina expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put South Carolina’s overall price level at 93.7 in 2024 (US = 100), the 33rd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 80.5 and goods 96.3.
Does South Carolina have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,657 in South Carolina income tax under 2026 law (3.5% of pay).
What is the sales tax in South Carolina?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in South Carolina?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Florence, SC leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,489), and Hilton Head Island, SC the least ($632).