City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Indianapolis, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 5.5% higher than in Indianapolis, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN would need about $105,500 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 $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,922 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.9% moving from Charleston, SC to Indianapolis, IN ($106,437 → $107,428), while prices change by −5.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.5% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Indianapolis, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,784 in Indianapolis | $105,503 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,267/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $49,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 88.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 86.4 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.1 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,922/yr.
86 Strong offer
Indianapolis, IN → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,922/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Indianapolis, IN is in Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Indianapolis, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Indianapolis, IN | Real change, Charleston → Indianapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,297 | +6.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,374 | +6.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,341 | +6.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,428 | +6.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,947 | +6.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,510 | $63,840 (+4.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $106,870 | $112,751 (−14.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $79,290 | $83,653 (+5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $84,230 | $88,865 (−4.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.