City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Lancaster, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 2.8% higher than in Lancaster, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Lancaster, PA would need about $102,800 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 $1,220 in Lancaster, PA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 19% in Lancaster, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,773 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Lancaster, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.0% moving from Charleston, SC to Lancaster, PA ($106,437 → $108,592), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.8% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Lancaster, PA: price level 98.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Lancaster, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 98.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,321 in Lancaster | $102,753 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,220/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $48,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Lancaster, PA MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Lancaster, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 93.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 107.3 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 98.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Lancaster, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,773/yr.
77 Strong offer
Lancaster, PA → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,773/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Lancaster, PA is in Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Lancaster, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Lancaster, PA | Real change, Charleston → Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,972 | +4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,190 | +4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,320 | +4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,592 | +4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,323 | +4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Lancaster, PA | Lancaster pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $78,360 | $80,517 (+32.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $104,740 | $107,623 (−18.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $76,110 | $78,205 (−1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $89,620 | $92,087 (−0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.