Here's what it costs to live in Charleston, South Carolina, based on the latest US government data. Renters pay a median of $1,722 per month, while the typical home is valued around $509,700. Households earn a median of $92,414 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 42. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$92,414
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,722
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$509,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
N/A
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,557
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,630
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,787
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$2,222
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | N/A |
| Registered Nurse | N/A |
| Elementary Teacher | N/A |
| Electrician | N/A |
| Accountant | N/A |
| Plumber | N/A |
| Nurse Practitioner | N/A |
| Civil Engineer | N/A |
| Operations Manager | N/A |
| Market Research Analyst | N/A |
| Health Services Manager | N/A |
| Truck Driver | N/A |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
154,338
Latest estimate
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Census ACS
42.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
12
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,519
Per month
Avg Home Value
$501,689
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 29401 | — | $1,868 | $1,167,600 |
| ZIP 29403 | — | $1,590 | $615,300 |
| ZIP 29405 | — | $1,126 | $221,100 |
| ZIP 29407 | — | $1,293 | $396,400 |
| ZIP 29409 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 29412 | — | $1,689 | $427,000 |
| ZIP 29414 | — | $1,478 | $347,200 |
| ZIP 29424 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 29425 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 29445 | — | $1,402 | $231,900 |
Showing top 10 of 12 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
50°F
July Avg
83°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.6
poor
Hospitals
6
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
94.0%
The cost of living index for Charleston is not yet available.
The median gross rent in Charleston is $1,722 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Charleston is $92,414 per year.
The median home value in Charleston is $509,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Charleston has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 42.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for South Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
