City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Detroit, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charleston, SC (101.0) and Detroit, MI (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charleston, SC goes as far as $99,300 in Detroit, MI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,122 in Detroit, MI. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 18% in Detroit, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $844 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Detroit, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.3% moving from Charleston, SC to Detroit, MI ($106,437 → $117,402), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.0% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,342 in Detroit | $100,662 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,122/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $52,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 98.8 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 102.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Detroit, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$844/yr.
71 Strong offer
Detroit, MI → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$844/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Detroit, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Detroit, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Detroit, MI | Real change, Charleston → Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,081 | +11.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $82,372 | +11.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $98,729 | +11.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $117,402 | +11.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $138,734 | +11.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Detroit, MI | Detroit pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $65,210 | $65,642 (+7.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $130,760 | $131,626 (−0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $80,650 | $81,184 (+2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $97,280 | $97,924 (+5.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.