City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Fresno, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 1.2% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $101,200 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,355 in Fresno, CA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 22% in Fresno, CA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Charleston, SC to Fresno, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.7% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Fresno, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 102.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,185 in Fresno | $98,829 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,355/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,910 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Fresno, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Fresno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 95.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 161.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 102.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Fresno, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
65 Fair offer
Fresno, CA → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Fresno, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Fresno, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Fresno, CA | Real change, Charleston → Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Fresno, CA | Fresno pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $78,800 | $77,877 (+27.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $129,060 | $127,549 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $78,690 | $77,769 (−2.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $125,420 | $123,952 (+33.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.