The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Carolina For 2024


The most expensive cities in South Carolina are Hilton Head Island and Mount Pleasant for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Before you decide to relocate to South Carolina, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.

These are the places in South Carolina that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.

We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 65 places in South Carolina with more than 5,000 people.

After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in South Carolina for 2024.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


What’s the most expensive place to live in South Carolina? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Hilton Head Island is the most expensive place to live in South Carolina.

Laurens (the cheapest place to live in South Carolina) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.

And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about South Carolina and the most expensive cities in the country:

The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In South Carolina For 2024

Hilton Head Island, SC

Source: Wikipedia User MoodyGroove of English Wikipedia | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 37,708
Cost Of Living Index: 134
Median Income: $93,694
Average Home Price: $746,761
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.0x
More on Hilton Head Island: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Hilton Head Island is 134. The median income in Hilton Head Island comes in at $93,694 and the average home value is $746,761 for 2024.

Mount Pleasant, SC

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 90,945
Cost Of Living Index: 128
Median Income: $115,167
Average Home Price: $777,495
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.8x
More on Mount Pleasant: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Mount Pleasant is 128. The median income in Mount Pleasant comes in at $115,167 and the average home value is $777,495 for 2024.

Tega Cay, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 12,816
Cost Of Living Index: 118
Median Income: $140,172
Average Home Price: $565,388
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Tega Cay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Tega Cay is 118. The median income in Tega Cay comes in at $140,172 and the average home value is $565,388 for 2024.

Hardeeville, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 8,048
Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $75,948
Average Home Price: $408,943
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.4x
More on Hardeeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Hardeeville is 112. The median income in Hardeeville comes in at $75,948 and the average home value is $408,943 for 2024.

Charleston, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Khanrak | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 149,960
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $83,891
Average Home Price: $530,719
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Charleston is 111. The median income in Charleston comes in at $83,891 and the average home value is $530,719 for 2024.

Bluffton, SC

Source: Flickr User Ken Lund | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 29,375
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $99,575
Average Home Price: $494,049
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Bluffton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Bluffton is 111. The median income in Bluffton comes in at $99,575 and the average home value is $494,049 for 2024.

James Island, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 11,689
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $95,364
Average Home Price: $552,752
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.8x
More on James Island: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in James Island is 106. The median income in James Island comes in at $95,364 and the average home value is $552,752 for 2024.

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Melikamp | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 18,850
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $69,792
Average Home Price: $398,493
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.7x
More on North Myrtle Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in North Myrtle Beach is 105. The median income in North Myrtle Beach comes in at $69,792 and the average home value is $398,493 for 2024.

Port Royal, SC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 14,573
Cost Of Living Index: 104
Median Income: $68,909
Average Home Price: $326,136
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Port Royal: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Port Royal is 104. The median income in Port Royal comes in at $68,909 and the average home value is $326,136 for 2024.

Fort Mill, SC

Source: Wikipedia User Bill Fitzpatrick | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 26,022
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $128,125
Average Home Price: $505,522
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Fort Mill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Fort Mill is 103. The median income in Fort Mill comes in at $128,125 and the average home value is $505,522 for 2024.

Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Palmetto State For 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in South Carolina are:

  1. How much money do I make?
  2. How much do I have to spend to live there?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.

For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.

With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:

  • Overall Cost Of Living Index
  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in South Carolina to figure out which is the most expensive.

You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.

So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 65 places in South Carolina that have more than 5,000 people.

The place with the highest cost of living in South Carolina according to the data is Hilton Head Island. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in South Carolina.

Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In South Carolina For 2024

Well, there you have it, the places in South Carolina that have the highest cost of living, with Hilton Head Island ranking as the most expensive city in the Palmetto State.

The most expensive cities in South Carolina are Hilton Head Island, Mount Pleasant, Tega Cay, Hardeeville, Charleston, Bluffton, James Island, North Myrtle Beach, Port Royal, and Fort Mill.

Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in South Carolina according to the data:

  1. Laurens
  2. Gaffney
  3. Union

For more South Carolina reading, check out:

Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina

Rank City Cost Of Living Population Median Income Average Home Price Home/Income Ratio
1 Hilton Head Island 134 37,708 $93,694 $746,761 8.0x
2 Mount Pleasant 128 90,945 $115,167 $777,495 6.8x
3 Tega Cay 118 12,816 $140,172 $565,388 4.0x
4 Hardeeville 112 8,048 $75,948 $408,943 5.4x
5 Charleston 111 149,960 $83,891 $530,719 6.3x
6 Bluffton 111 29,375 $99,575 $494,049 5.0x
7 James Island 106 11,689 $95,364 $552,752 5.8x
8 North Myrtle Beach 105 18,850 $69,792 $398,493 5.7x
9 Port Royal 104 14,573 $68,909 $326,136 4.7x
10 Fort Mill 103 26,022 $128,125 $505,522 3.9x
11 Greenville 102 70,838 $65,519 $295,392 4.5x
12 Hanahan 102 20,731 $79,305 $384,391 4.8x
13 Forest Acres 102 10,514 $68,110 $291,080 4.3x
14 Hollywood 102 5,397 $77,191 $467,948 6.1x
15 Lexington 101 23,665 $78,164 $289,130 3.7x
16 Goose Creek 100 45,858 $84,041 $309,585 3.7x
17 Beaufort 100 13,582 $60,366 $368,692 6.1x
18 Summerville 99 50,839 $73,712 $370,371 5.0x
19 Clemson 99 17,557 $50,263 $363,229 7.2x
20 Myrtle Beach 98 36,064 $50,558 $301,360 6.0x
21 Columbia 97 136,754 $54,095 $222,099 4.1x
22 West Columbia 97 17,459 $52,648 $211,731 4.0x
23 Irmo 97 11,685 $77,656 $271,045 3.5x
24 Sumter 96 43,046 $48,900 $179,925 3.7x
25 Simpsonville 96 24,133 $79,937 $360,596 4.5x
26 Camden 96 7,834 $54,141 $211,324 3.9x
27 Mauldin 95 25,267 $75,565 $282,107 3.7x
28 Moncks Corner 95 13,456 $83,079 $354,593 4.3x
29 Clover 95 6,800 $63,649 $392,293 6.2x
30 North Charleston 94 115,755 $58,534 $292,239 5.0x
31 Florence 94 39,931 $56,031 $207,198 3.7x
32 Greer 94 37,010 $73,534 $327,385 4.5x
33 Conway 94 25,121 $48,161 $283,094 5.9x
34 Easley 93 23,135 $62,551 $298,368 4.8x
35 York 93 8,534 $50,177 $333,788 6.7x
36 Rock Hill 92 74,170 $60,807 $312,290 5.1x
37 Cayce 92 13,755 $56,976 $195,496 3.4x
38 Seneca 92 8,834 $48,108 $275,023 5.7x
39 Orangeburg 91 13,220 $29,340 $142,887 4.9x
40 Newberry 90 10,682 $47,565 $163,742 3.4x
41 Fountain Inn 90 10,675 $73,665 $280,678 3.8x
42 Travelers Rest 90 7,929 $44,375 $299,948 6.8x
43 Marion 90 6,402 $28,551 $90,130 3.2x
44 Walterboro 90 5,515 $46,119 $181,873 3.9x
45 Batesburg-Leesville 90 5,004 $49,807 $137,614 2.8x
46 Spartanburg 89 38,301 $49,140 $209,990 4.3x
47 Aiken 89 32,014 $65,712 $248,666 3.8x
48 Georgetown 89 8,465 $50,000 $244,215 4.9x
49 Dillon 89 6,454 $34,086 $82,630 2.4x
50 Anderson 88 29,345 $40,445 $247,118 6.1x
51 Lancaster 88 8,592 $37,714 $262,150 7.0x
52 Hartsville 88 7,450 $46,230 $156,598 3.4x
53 Darlington 88 6,172 $33,750 $123,699 3.7x
54 Lyman 88 6,099 $76,723 $289,160 3.8x
55 Central 88 5,272 $45,909 $247,449 5.4x
56 Lake City 87 6,080 $37,013 $113,134 3.1x
57 North Augusta 86 24,425 $85,093 $235,984 2.8x
58 Bennettsville 86 6,975 $37,891 $84,777 2.2x
59 Chester 86 5,260 $39,951 $142,891 3.6x
60 Cheraw 86 5,056 $30,658 $146,907 4.8x
61 Clinton 85 7,624 $38,350 $126,502 3.3x
62 Greenwood 84 22,528 $38,884 $169,336 4.4x
63 Union 84 8,099 $32,548 $108,743 3.3x
64 Gaffney 83 12,651 $38,059 $160,274 4.2x
65 Laurens 83 9,276 $52,585 $147,919 2.8x
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.