City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 2.9% higher than in Raleigh, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Raleigh, NC would need about $102,900 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,596 in Raleigh, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,362 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Charleston, SC to Raleigh, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by −2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.4% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,222 in Raleigh | $102,858 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Raleigh, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,362/yr.
77 Strong offer
Raleigh, NC → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,362/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Charleston → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,170 | $61,889 (+1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $132,770 | $136,564 (+3.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $81,950 | $84,292 (+6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $84,830 | $87,254 (−6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.