City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Hartford, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Hartford, CT are 1.8% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $101,800 in Hartford, CT to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,477 in Hartford, CT. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 24% in Hartford, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $918 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Hartford, CT.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Charleston, SC to Hartford, CT ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by +1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.9% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Hartford, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 102.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,767 in Hartford | $98,264 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,477/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $59,940 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 110.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 144.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 102.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Hartford, CT
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$918/yr.
63 Fair offer
Hartford, CT → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$918/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Hartford, CT is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Hartford, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Hartford, CT | Real change, Charleston → Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +10.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +10.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +10.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +10.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +10.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Hartford, CT | Hartford pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $79,800 | $78,414 (+28.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $132,520 | $130,219 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $95,940 | $94,274 (+18.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $101,470 | $99,708 (+7.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.