City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 3.2% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $103,200 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,507 in Richmond, VA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 24% in Richmond, VA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,936 in VA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.5% moving from Charleston, SC to Richmond, VA ($106,437 → $111,183), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.8% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,926 in Richmond | $103,172 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$93/yr.
79 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$93/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Richmond, VA | Real change, Charleston → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,475 | +7.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,009 | +7.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,499 | +7.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,183 | +7.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,385 | +7.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,290 | $63,234 (+3.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $132,120 | $136,311 (+3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $84,220 | $86,891 (+9.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $93,580 | $96,548 (+4.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.