City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Crestview, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 4.1% higher than in Crestview, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Crestview, FL would need about $104,100 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,581 in Crestview, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Crestview, FL.
- 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 Crestview, FL changes real buying power by +4.1%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Crestview, FL: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Crestview, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,106 in Crestview | $104,051 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,581/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $47,510 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Crestview |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 94.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Crestview, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
81 Strong offer
Crestview, FL → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
55 Fair 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 Crestview, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Crestview, FL | Real change, Charleston → Crestview |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Crestview, FL | Crestview pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,330 | $62,774 (+2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $130,640 | $135,933 (+2.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $79,510 | $82,731 (+4.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,260 | $84,552 (−8.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.