South Carolina Cost of Living & Rents (2026)
Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, and composite living cost indices across all 17 benchmark metropolitan areas in South Carolina.
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget · Methodology
Metropolitan Areas in South Carolina
| Metro Area | COL Index | HUD 1BR Rent | HUD 2BR Rent | Living Wage | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County, SC | 138.4 | $1,844/mo | $2,010/mo | $30.61/hr | View |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 136.5 | $1,731/mo | $1,884/mo | $30.18/hr | View |
| Jasper County, SC | 116.3 | $1,450/mo | $1,579/mo | $25.71/hr | View |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 114.6 | $1,480/mo | $1,790/mo | $23.80/hr | View |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 112.9 | $1,384/mo | $1,507/mo | $24.97/hr | View |
| Spartanburg, SC | 111.5 | $1,099/mo | $1,196/mo | $24.65/hr | View |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 109.7 | $1,258/mo | $1,504/mo | $24.25/hr | View |
| Columbia, SC | 109.2 | $1,126/mo | $1,226/mo | $24.16/hr | View |
| Lancaster County, SC | 108.8 | $982/mo | $1,069/mo | $24.06/hr | View |
| Chester County, SC | 100.4 | $850/mo | $1,103/mo | $22.20/hr | View |
| Kershaw County, SC | 98.9 | $843/mo | $954/mo | $21.87/hr | View |
| Anderson, SC | 98.6 | $1,012/mo | $1,102/mo | $21.80/hr | View |
| Florence, SC | 98.3 | $987/mo | $1,121/mo | $21.73/hr | View |
| Darlington County, SC | 98.2 | $874/mo | $1,093/mo | $21.71/hr | View |
| Sumter, SC | 97.1 | $1,023/mo | $1,338/mo | $21.47/hr | View |
| Laurens County, SC | 93.1 | $924/mo | $1,119/mo | $20.60/hr | View |
| Union County, SC | 89.4 | $767/mo | $1,003/mo | $19.78/hr | View |
Comprehensive 2026 cost of living analysis for South Carolina. Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, state income tax impact, & metropolitan living. Official 2026 economic data for South Carolina compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Its metros average a cost-of-living index of 107.7 (U.S. = 100), from EPI family budgets. Average one-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent across its metros is about $1,155 a month.
The average living wage for a single adult in South Carolina is approximately $23.74/hour, while a family with two adults and one child requires roughly $21.67/hour to cover basic necessities.