City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Ogden, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charleston, SC (101.0) and Ogden, UT (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charleston, SC goes as far as $99,400 in Ogden, UT.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,281 in Ogden, UT. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 20% in Ogden, UT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,309 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Ogden, UT.
- 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 Ogden, UT changes real buying power by +0.6%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Ogden, UT: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Ogden, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,393 in Ogden | $100,611 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,281/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $48,900 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Ogden, UT MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Ogden, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Ogden |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 117.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 78.8 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Ogden, UT
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,309/yr.
71 Strong offer
Ogden, UT → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,309/yr.
65 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 Ogden, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Ogden, UT | Real change, Charleston → Ogden |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Ogden, UT | Ogden pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $63,910 | $64,300 (+5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $109,880 | $110,551 (−16.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $82,010 | $82,511 (+4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,840 | $82,340 (−11.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.