South Carolina Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 46 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$945/mo
Average Home Value
$181,398
Average Owner Cost
$771/mo
County cost atlas
South Carolina housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
46
Avg rent
$945/mo
Owner cost
$771/mo
Avg score
54.8
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in South Carolina: An Overview
The median rent in South Carolina is $945 per month, which is 19% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within South Carolina, housing costs vary significantly by county. Berkeley County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,518 per month and a median home value of $280,300. Abbeville County has the lowest reported median rent at $634 per month and a median home value of $147,200.
The average home value across South Carolina counties is $181,398, 36% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $57,006, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in South Carolina, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in South Carolina
How median rents are spread across 46 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All South Carolina Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | Expensive$1,518/mo | $280,300 | $1,260/mo | 10.9 | 29.0% |
| Charleston County | Expensive$1,506/mo | $450,800 | $1,568/mo | 7.0 | 31.0% |
| Beaufort County | Moderate$1,484/mo | $407,600 | $1,388/mo | 9.3 | 30.0% |
| Dorchester County | Moderate$1,381/mo | $294,400 | $1,343/mo | 11.1 | 31.0% |
| Jasper County | Moderate$1,307/mo | $269,400 | $904/mo | 26.0 | 27.0% |
| York County | Moderate$1,304/mo | $322,700 | $1,277/mo | 13.3 | 29.0% |
| Greenville County | Moderate$1,198/mo | $273,900 | $1,105/mo | 19.3 | 30.0% |
| Richland County | Moderate$1,185/mo | $224,200 | $1,182/mo | 17.5 | 33.0% |
| Horry County | Moderate$1,181/mo | $260,500 | $939/mo | 26.5 | 31.0% |
| Georgetown County | Moderate$1,166/mo | $262,300 | $846/mo | 32.6 | 29.0% |
| Lexington County | Moderate$1,115/mo | $217,700 | $1,025/mo | 24.5 | 28.0% |
| Aiken County | Moderate$1,031/mo | $199,500 | $825/mo | 38.6 | 29.0% |
| Spartanburg County | Moderate$1,019/mo | $216,000 | $934/mo | 31.7 | 29.0% |
| Sumter County | Moderate$1,006/mo | $159,500 | $777/mo | 42.6 | 29.0% |
| Calhoun County | Affordable$994/mo | $148,800 | $589/mo | 56.9 | 30.0% |
| Anderson County | Affordable$952/mo | $212,500 | $842/mo | 41.5 | 28.0% |
| Pickens County | Affordable$936/mo | $216,000 | $802/mo | 45.4 | 32.0% |
| Chester County | Affordable$918/mo | $143,800 | $590/mo | 61.6 | 29.0% |
| Fairfield County | Affordable$910/mo | $129,100 | $619/mo | 60.4 | 34.0% |
| Florence County | Affordable$908/mo | $165,500 | $796/mo | 47.9 | 29.0% |
| Colleton County | Affordable$905/mo | $145,900 | $762/mo | 50.3 | 31.0% |
| Lancaster County | Affordable$892/mo | $298,100 | $1,012/mo | 36.5 | 31.0% |
| Greenwood County | Affordable$880/mo | $166,400 | $712/mo | 56.2 | 29.0% |
| Darlington County | Affordable$876/mo | $141,400 | $601/mo | 64.2 | 35.0% |
| Oconee County | Affordable$876/mo | $217,200 | $721/mo | 56.0 | 30.0% |
| Kershaw County | Affordable$872/mo | $191,900 | $934/mo | 41.8 | 33.0% |
| Edgefield County | Affordable$854/mo | $194,300 | $732/mo | 57.5 | 31.0% |
| Newberry County | Affordable$854/mo | $158,200 | $676/mo | 61.8 | 29.0% |
| Laurens County | Affordable$847/mo | $153,500 | $667/mo | 63.3 | 26.0% |
| Hampton County | Affordable$815/mo | $102,400 | $551/mo | 74.2 | 31.0% |
| Saluda County | Affordable$814/mo | $123,200 | $561/mo | 73.7 | 27.0% |
| Cherokee County | Affordable$813/mo | $135,200 | $560/mo | 74.0 | 29.0% |
| Lee County | Affordable$806/mo | $101,900 | $479/mo | 78.6 | 29.0% |
| Orangeburg County | Affordable$804/mo | $109,700 | $568/mo | 74.7 | 33.0% |
| Bamberg County | Affordable$794/mo | $96,000 | $519/mo | 78.6 | 31.0% |
| Chesterfield County | Affordable$776/mo | $101,400 | $531/mo | 80.4 | 28.0% |
| Union County | Affordable$770/mo | $100,000 | $494/mo | 82.9 | 27.0% |
| Williamsburg County | Affordable$769/mo | $95,100 | $561/mo | 79.9 | 32.0% |
| Clarendon County | Affordable$728/mo | $147,300 | $584/mo | 82.9 | 32.0% |
| Barnwell County | Affordable$695/mo | $97,200 | $647/mo | 82.1 | 30.0% |
| Dillon County | Affordable$692/mo | $84,400 | $446/mo | 92.6 | 30.0% |
| Allendale County | Affordable$691/mo | $61,600 | $469/mo | 92.0 | 26.0% |
| Marlboro County | Affordable$686/mo | $74,500 | $424/mo | 93.5 | 26.0% |
| McCormick County | Affordable$666/mo | $159,000 | $601/mo | 86.7 | 25.0% |
| Marion County | Affordable$663/mo | $86,800 | $446/mo | 94.6 | 23.0% |
| Abbeville County | Affordable$634/mo | $147,200 | $596/mo | 88.7 | 26.0% |
Compare South Carolina to Other States
See how South Carolina counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in South Carolina?
What is the most expensive county to live in South Carolina?
How does South Carolina's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in South Carolina?
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in South Carolina, South Carolina? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.