What is the average rent in Charleston?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Charleston city centre costs approximately USD 2,325 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 1,709 (saving 27%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 3,553.

Is Charleston affordable to live in?

Charleston is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are very expensive, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 SC, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in Charleston

Q: How expensive is Charleston compared to the rest of United States?

Charleston ranks #26 out of 577 cities globally. It is 20.8% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 46.9 and local purchasing power is 139.2.

20.8% above the United States average

Ranked #26 of 577 cities · More expensive than 95.5% of cities worldwide

+20.8%

Cost of Living

+13.6%

Rent

+20.8%

Groceries

-3.5%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in Charleston

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 2,325/mo	USD 1,709/mo	27%
3-Bedroom	USD 3,553/mo	USD 2,623/mo	26%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Charleston

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$4.20	1 source
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$2.85	1 source
Bread (500g)	$2.67	1 source
Local cheese (1kg)	$14.00	1 source
Chicken (1kg)	$14.00	1 source
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$8.00	1 source
Eggs (12)	$6.00	1 source
Milk (1L)	$1.05	1 source
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.28	1 source
Tomatoes (1kg)	$4.25	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$22.00	1 source

Apples (1kg)

$4.20

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$2.85

Bread (500g)

$2.67

Local cheese (1kg)

$14.00

Chicken (1kg)

$14.00

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$8.00

Eggs (12)

$6.00

Milk (1L)

$1.05

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.28

Tomatoes (1kg)

$4.25

Wine (mid-range)

$22.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$6.00	1 source
Cappuccino	$7.00	1 source
McMeal	$12.00	1 source
Cheap meal	$20.00	1 source
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$118.00	1 source

Draft beer (0.5L)

$6.00

Cappuccino

$7.00

McMeal

$12.00

Cheap meal

$20.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$118.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$125.00	1 source
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$59.00	1 source
Sport shoes (Nike)	$91.00	1 source
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$56.00	1 source

Business shoes (leather)

$125.00

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$59.00

Sport shoes (Nike)

$91.00

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$56.00

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$13.50	1 source
Gym membership	$43.00	1 source

Cinema ticket

$13.50

Gym membership

$43.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.80	1 source
Monthly pass	$55.00	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

$0.80

Monthly pass

$55.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$265.00	1 source

Basic utilities (85m²)

$265.00

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Charleston has a cost of living index of 69.7 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Expatistan is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

69.7

Index

Sources

5.9

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

66.7

Expatistan

56.0

left out

LivingCost

72.6

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

+20.8% Very expensive

Rent

+13.6% Expensive

Groceries

+20.8% Very expensive

Restaurants

+14.5% Expensive

Purchasing Power

-3.5% Average

Living in Charleston: What to Expect

Charleston is very expensive by global standards (ranked #26 of 577 cities). It is 20.8% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are very expensive and dining out is expensive. The best value is rent and the priciest is groceries.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in Charleston

Rent Prices in Charleston

Prices of Goods & Services in Charleston

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Charleston: What to Expect

How Does Charleston Compare?

Planning a Move to Charleston?