Cost of living, Charleston
101
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Charleston sits about 1% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +1.0%
- Metro
- Charleston
- CBSA
- 16700
Charleston all-items RPP is 101 (2024), about 1% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $90,900 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Charleston
| Component | Charleston | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 100 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 119.8 | 100 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Charleston
| At US average | In Charleston |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $60,600 |
| $90,000 | $90,900 |
| $150,000 | $151,500 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (101 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Charleston?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Charleston-North Charleston, SC is 101, versus a US average of 100 (+1.0%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $90,900 in Charleston for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 290 OEWS emp. $197,220
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 730 OEWS emp. $174,040
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 940 OEWS emp. $167,000
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists , 200 OEWS emp. $162,230
- Financial Managers , 1,420 OEWS emp. $147,170
- Pharmacists , 920 OEWS emp. $145,950
See methodology and disclaimer.