Aiken, SC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Aiken, SC Summary

Cost of living in Aiken research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Aiken is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in South Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Aiken is 90, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Aiken is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Aiken ranks as the #33 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.

  • Aiken ranks as the #1,633 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Aiken is $199,000.

  • The median income in Aiken is $58,125.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
90
Aiken's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Aiken, SC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Aiken has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to South Carolina, Aiken has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than South Carolina's index of 96.

The standard of living in Aiken ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Aiken ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.

For more reading on life in Aiken, check out:

33 out of 99
In South Carolina
1,633 out of 6,412
In America

Aiken Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Aiken. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Aiken is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Aiken is 93.

  • The Health index in Aiken is 90.

  • The Housing index in Aiken is 96.

  • The Transportation index in Aiken is 84.

  • The Utilities index in Aiken is 88.

Living Expense Aiken South Carolina National Average
Overall 90 96 100
Services 95 99 100
Groceries 93 100 100
Health 90 96 100
Housing 96 89 100
Transportation 84 90 100
Utilities 88 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
Aiken Cost of Living Vs. SC

Aiken, SC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Aiken is $199,000.

  • The Median Rent in Aiken is $1,027.

  • The Median Income in Aiken is $58,125.

  • The Home Value To Income in Aiken is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Aiken is 0.21x.

Statistic Aiken South Carolina United States
Median Home Value $199,000 $181,800 $244,900
Median Rent $1,027 $970 $1,163
Median Income $58,125 $58,234 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.1x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Aiken, SC
$199,000
Median Home Value
$1,027
Median Rent
$58,125
Median Income

Aiken, SC Costs By Category

Detailed Aiken Services Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Aiken South Carolina
Shampoo $0.93 $1.06
Movie $13.01 $10.68
Bowling $14.9 $14.67
Haircut $16.42 $18.62
Beauty Salon $33.99 $39.05

Detailed Aiken Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Aiken South Carolina
Ground Beef $4.13 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.71 $1.39
Milk $1.4 $2.05
Potatoes $3.19 $3.29
Pizza $9.96 $10.62
Beer $9.67 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.27 $2.34

Detailed Aiken Health Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Aiken South Carolina
Optometrist $173.63 $108.57
Doctor $94.91 $116.17
Dentist $76.94 $99.13

Detailed Aiken Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Aiken South Carolina
Gasoline $2.01 $2.22
Tire Balancing $31.72 $50.07

Detailed Aiken Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina

Item Aiken South Carolina
All Electricity $124.29 $167.67
Phone $185.79 $175.64

Aiken SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Aiken

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Aiken. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Evans, GA has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Aiken.

  • Martinez, GA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Aiken.

  • North Augusta, SC has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Aiken.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Aiken
Evans, GA 38,452 106 1.2x
Martinez, GA 33,829 90 1.0x
North Augusta, SC 24,013 91 1.0x
Lexington, SC 23,068 99 1.1x
West Columbia, SC 17,265 94 1.0x
Grovetown, GA 15,608 89 1.0x
Seven Oaks, SC 15,561 92 1.0x
Oak Grove, SC 11,803 93 1.0x
Irmo, SC 11,581 94 1.0x
Red Bank, SC 10,070 93 1.0x

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