City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Columbia, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 7.8% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $107,800 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,164 in Columbia, SC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 19% in Columbia, SC.
- Both are in SC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,843 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Columbia, SC changes real buying power by +7.8%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 93.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,770 in Columbia | $107,794 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,164/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 79.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 93.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Columbia, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
93 Strong offer
Columbia, SC → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Columbia, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC | Real change, Charleston → Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +7.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +7.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +7.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +7.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +7.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Columbia, SC | Columbia pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,050 | $64,730 (+6.1%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $123,380 | $132,996 (+0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $69,210 | $74,604 (−6.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,920 | $88,305 (−4.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.