City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Nashville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 4.8% higher than in Nashville, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Nashville, TN would need about $104,800 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,578 in Nashville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN changes real buying power by +4.8%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Nashville, TN: price level 96.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 96.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,420 in Nashville | $104,800 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,578/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% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $50,390 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 104.6 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 96.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Nashville, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
84 Strong offer
Nashville, TN → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
52 Fair 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 Nashville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Nashville, TN | Real change, Charleston → Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Nashville, TN | Nashville pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,460 | $64,410 (+5.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $126,610 | $132,687 (+0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $78,080 | $81,828 (+3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $84,040 | $88,074 (−5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.