City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 9.5% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $109,500 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 $1,154 in Memphis, TN. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 17% in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Memphis, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +9.5%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,301 in Memphis | $109,528 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
99 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
40 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Memphis, TN | Real change, Charleston → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,510 | $67,371 (+10.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $125,580 | $137,546 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $76,960 | $84,293 (+6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,500 | $89,265 (−3.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.