Cost of Living in South Carolina: Prices, Rent, Taxes

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South Carolina's overall price level was 92.2 in 2024 where the nation is 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities), with housing rents measured at 73.9. Median gross rent was $1,272 and median home value $299,500 (Census ACS 2024), both below the US figures.

Price Level92.2US = 100, BEA 2024
Median Rent$1,272US $1,487
Median Home$299,500US $360,600
Sales Tax6%plus up to 1% county

Prices Against The Nation

Price level, all items92.2US = 100.0 (BEA, 2024) source
Housing (rents) price level73.9US 100.4 (BEA, 2024) source
Median home value$299,500US $360,600 source
Median gross rent$1,272US $1,487 source
Median household income$72,350US $81,604 source
Median hourly wage, all jobs$22.35US $24.51 (BLS, May 2025) source

South Carolina RPP, all items, 2024: 92.244 (U.S. = 100.000). In 2023 it was 92.840 and in 2022 93.636. source
South Carolina RPP, goods, 2024: 95.334 (U.S. goods index 99.542). source
South Carolina RPP, services: housing (rents), 2024: 73.924 (U.S. 100.422). BEA notes housing price levels are estimated for tenant-occupied housing. source
South Carolina RPP, services: utilities, 2024: 93.229 (U.S. 98.445). source
South Carolina RPP, services: other, 2024: 97.869 (U.S. 100.241). source
Of the 50 states and D.C., South Carolina ranks 33rd highest on the all-items RPP for 2024 (derived from the same table). source

By County: Income, Homes and Rent

Eight counties, from the same Census table. County values vary a lot within a county; use them as a starting point.

County	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent	Median age
Charleston County	431,001	$93,911	$590,200	$1,754	40.1
Greenville County	570,745	$82,648	$339,800	$1,381	38.5
Richland County	430,651	$65,909	$273,600	$1,300	34.8
Horry County	413,391	$68,534	$325,300	$1,433	49.7
Beaufort County	201,775	$90,509	$539,100	$1,994	49.1
York County	303,001	$94,354	$414,300	$1,458	39.9
Lexington County	313,774	$78,447	$273,100	$1,248	40.1
Spartanburg County	369,256	$69,927	$266,100	$1,156	38.3

Work and Wages

South Carolina unemployment rate was 4.0% in September 2026 (preliminary, seasonally adjusted), per BLS series LASST450000000000003. August was 4.1%, July 4.2%. source
BLS state unemployment ranking page lists South Carolina at 4.0% for September 2026 (preliminary), rank 28, tied with Louisiana and West Virginia. source
U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted), BLS series LNS14000000. August was 4.1%. source
OEWS May 2025, all occupations, South Carolina: employment 2,305,080; mean hourly wage $28.50; median hourly wage $22.35; mean annual wage $59,280; median annual wage $46,490 (series OEUS4500000000000000000{01,03,08,04,13}). source
OEWS May 2025, all occupations, United States: mean hourly wage $33.54; median hourly wage $24.51; median annual wage $50,980. source
The BLS OEWS South Carolina index page lists May 2025 as the latest reference year. source

Taxes You Will Meet

Individual income tax, tax year 2025: rates run from 0 to a top rate of 6% on taxable income. DOR says brackets are adjusted annually for inflation. source
Tax year 2026: two brackets, 1.99% on taxable income under $30,000 and 5.21% on $30,000 and above, minus $966. The 2026 South Carolina Income Adjusted Deduction (SCIAD) is $15,000 single or married filing separately, $22,500 head of household, $30,000 married filing jointly. source
The statewide sales and use tax rate is 6%. Counties may impose an additional 1% local sales tax if voters in the county approve it. Rates by county and municipality are in DOR forms ST-500 and ST-575. source
Accommodations tax: DOR lists a 2% state accommodations tax in addition to the state sales tax; local governments can charge up to an additional 3% in accommodations tax. source
Property tax, legal residence: Section 12-43-220 taxes an owner-occupied legal residence and up to five contiguous acres on an assessment of four percent of fair market value. The six percent ratio applies to real property not otherwise provided for, and when an owner is found ineligible for the four percent rate. source
To get the 4% legal residence rate, contact the county assessor's office. The owner must apply before the first penalty date for the tax year in which the ratio is first claimed, with a statement under penalty of perjury. The residence generally cannot be rented more than 72 days in a calendar year. Notify the assessor within six months of a change in ownership or use; a new owner must apply separately. source
Legal residence 4% rate statute detail (deadline, proof, 72-day rental limit, penalty of 100% of tax plus interest if later found ineligible): SC Code 12-43-220. source
Vehicles: a vehicle property tax bill is generated by the county auditor and paid to the county treasurer (see new_resident). DOR says property tax is administered and collected by local governments. source
Social Security: "Social Security benefits and railroad retirement taxed for federal purposes are not subject to tax in South Carolina" (DOR IIT FAQ, paraphrase of the page). source
Retirement income deduction: up to $3,000 of qualifying retirement income a year before age 65; up to $10,000 a year at 65 and older. source
Age 65 and older deduction: up to $15,000 for a resident 65 or older by year end; up to $30,000 for joint filers when both are 65 or older. Retirement deductions reduce it, and the combined total cannot exceed $15,000 per taxpayer. source
Military retirement: beginning with tax year 2022, all military retirement income included in South Carolina taxable income may be deducted. source
Homestead Exemption: a complete exemption from tax on the first $50,000 of fair market value of a legal residence for owners over 65, totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind. Contact the county auditor. For Tax Year 2026 the State temporarily authorized an additional Homestead Exemption for certain recipients; the county auditor determines if it applies (amount not stated on the page). source
SC Code 12-37-250: the first $50,000 of fair market value of the dwelling place is exempt from county, municipal, school and special assessment real estate taxes; the person must be a state resident for at least one year and be 65 by December 31, totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind. Applications generally go to the county auditor before July 16; failure to apply waives the exemption for that year. source

By City

FAQ

Does South Carolina tax Social Security?

No. The SC Department of Revenue says Social Security benefits taxed for federal purposes are not subject to South Carolina income tax. source

How long do I have to get a South Carolina driver's license after moving?

SCDMV says to apply within 45 days of moving permanently to the state. An eight-year license is $25, and you surrender your out-of-state license. source

How do I get the 4% property tax rate on my home?

Contact your county assessor's office to apply for the 4% legal residence rate on your primary home, before the first penalty date of the tax year in which you first claim it (SC Code 12-43-220). source

What do I pay before registering a car brought from another state?

Property tax to the county treasurer first (the county auditor generates the bill from the VIN and old registration). At SCDMV the published total for a regular passenger vehicle is $305: $250 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, $15 title, $40 registration, plus the county property tax. source

What We Could Not Confirm

Not confirmed: we looked for these on official pages and did not find them. Check with the town or operator before you rely on them.

SCDMV vehicle registration deadline for new residents: the SCDMV moving-to-SC vehicle page and registration page state no day count (an unofficial summary mentioned 45 days, not confirmed on a page). Late fee schedule (MV-13 PDF) not readable.
Dollar amount of the temporary 2026 additional Homestead Exemption: DOR page does not state it.
Hurricane season dates are not on the SCEMD Know Your Zone or Hurricane Guide pages read; taken from NOAA NHC.
DOR property tax overview page does not describe vehicle property tax rates; no vehicle millage or assessment ratio stated.
BEA RPP for metro areas and sub-state not collected.
Mean travel time, 65+ share and homeownership are derived from ACS detailed tables, not read from Census-published profile tables (S0801, DP05, DP04).
York County travel time uses B08006 because the B08301 file has no York County row.
DOR ruling page for the 65+ and military deductions was a PDF that could not be read; amounts come from the DOR IIT FAQ page.
Hardeeville, Greer and other fast-growing places: Census figures reflect boundary changes including annexations; not verified place by place.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Cost of Living in South Carolina”, itssouthcarolina.com/living/cost-of-living-in-south-carolina/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.