Cost of Living in Charleston County, South Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Charleston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Charleston County ranks #2,940 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Charleston County Median Home Value Exceeds State Average
In Charleston County, the median home value was estimated at $489,100, which is $289,367 above the South Carolina unweighted county mean of $199,733. The median gross rent was $1,620 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $985. For owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner cost was $1,607, compared to the unweighted county mean of $791. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), or rentBurdenGrapiPct, was 32.0%. This official B25071 estimate is 1.5 percentage points higher than the South Carolina unweighted county mean of 30.5%. The median renter-household income for the period was $56,259. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Charleston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.0% of renter household income in Charleston County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,620 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,607. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $64,800 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $985 per month. Charleston County's $1,620 median is 64.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Charleston County
Rent Burden
22.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,065
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.8%
of gross income
The median home in Charleston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $489,100. Estimated monthly cost: $3,905 vs. your max of $2,065.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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