Charleston, South Carolina
Living in Charleston, South Carolina is close to the national average, with a cost of living index of 98 (US = 100). Typical rent is $2,037 a month, 5% above the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.50 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 43% of the area's $84,320 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.50
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$2,037
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.74
Combo meal
Electricity
15.76¢
per kWh · ~$142/mo
Car Insurance
$182/mo
$2,180/yr
Median Household Income
$84,320
42.6% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,180 in Charleston. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Charleston residents actually pay.
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Avg rent $2,037/mo in Charleston. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$2.19 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$4.29 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.79 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$8.39 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.34 estimate
$5.90 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.18 estimate
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$8.05 estimate
$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.87 estimate
$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.15 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.70 estimate
$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$2.19 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$4.29 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.79 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$8.39 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate$5.90 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.84 | $5.34 | +39.1% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.51 | $5.18 | +14.9% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.51 | $8.05 | +46.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.21 | $4.87 | +15.7% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.62 | $6.15 | +33.1% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - Westwood Plaza (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.15 | $8.70 | +41.5% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.74
Casual Dining
$23.27
Monthly Spend
$370.52
+4.36% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $7.90
$12.74
+61.3%Wendy's
2022: $8.92
$13.76
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $9.55
$14.27
+49.4%Starbucks
2022: $4.20
$5.83
+38.8%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Charleston?
Average 1BR: $1,670/mo · 2BR: $2,404/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
278k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,313
$68k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$84k
household median
Employment by Sector — Charleston
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$56k/yr
~$78k/yr
~$33k/yr
~$67k/yr
~$96k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 45019
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$2,074/wk · $108k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$644/wk · $33k/yr
Charleston Cost of Living FAQ
Is Charleston, SC expensive to live in?
Charleston has a cost of living index of 98, where 100 is the US average, so it is close to average. It is the most expensive of the 11 South Carolina cities we track.
What is the average rent in Charleston, SC?
Typical rent in Charleston is $2,037 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 5% above the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,670 and two bedrooms about $2,404. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Charleston?
Rent in Charleston rose 4.4% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Charleston?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.50 a gallon in Charleston as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for South Carolina. That is 12% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Charleston?
Homes in South Carolina pay an average of 15.8 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Charleston is about $142.
How much is car insurance in Charleston?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,180 a year in South Carolina, or about $182 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Charleston?
Median household income in the Charleston area is $84,320 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $35,925 a year, or 43% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
Rent in Charleston is 32% above the $1,548 average across the 11 South Carolina cities we track, and its cost of living index of 98 compares with a state average of 92.
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