City in South Carolina, United States
Cost of living in Charleston
How much a month costs in Charleston
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $3,800–5,500 ($3,800–5,500).
Prices in Charleston
Typical 2026 ranges in USD, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | USD | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | $2,200–3,200 | $2,200–3,200 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | $1,600–2,400 | $1,600–2,400 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | $40–70 | $40–70 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | $200–340 | $200–340 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | $13–20 | $13–20 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | $30–55 | $30–55 |
| Cappuccino | $4–6 | $4–6 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | $6–9 | $6–9 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | $2–3 | $2–3 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | $13–22 | $13–22 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | $25–45 | $25–45 |
| Gym membership (month) | $40–80 | $40–80 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | $25–50 | $25–50 |
Value for money: 8/100
A value score of 8/100 means Charleston gives more quality of life per dollar than 7% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 85/100. It's the 28th most affordable of 57 places we cover in United States.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across United States
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | $2,600–3,800 | 27/100 |
| Savannah | $3,000–4,400 | 19/100 |
| Portland | $3,000–4,500 | 16/100 |
| Orlando | $3,200–4,600 | 15/100 |
| Atlanta | $3,200–4,800 | 10/100 |
| Philadelphia | $3,300–4,800 | 8/100 |
| New Orleans | $3,400–4,800 | 9/100 |
| Las Vegas | $3,500–5,000 | 8/100 |
| Denver | $3,500–5,000 | 11/100 |
| Scottsdale | $3,600–5,200 | 13/100 |
| Nashville | $3,700–5,200 | 10/100 |
| Austin | $3,800–5,400 | 8/100 |
| Charleston | $3,800–5,500 | 8/100 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $3,800–5,500 | 8/100 |
| Chicago | $4,000–5,800 | 4/100 |
| Sedona | $4,000–5,800 | 8/100 |
| Big Island | $4,200–6,200 | 5/100 |
| Honolulu | $4,400–6,200 | 6/100 |
| Washington, D.C. | $4,400–6,200 | 3/100 |
| Los Angeles | $4,500–6,500 | 3/100 |
| San Diego | $4,600–6,500 | 4/100 |
| Seattle | $4,600–6,600 | 2/100 |
| Maui | $4,600–6,600 | 5/100 |
| Miami | $4,800–6,800 | 2/100 |
| Boston | $4,800–6,800 | 3/100 |
| Key West | $5,000–7,000 | 4/100 |
| Kauai | $5,000–7,500 | 3/100 |
| Miami Beach | $5,200–7,400 | 2/100 |
| San Francisco | $5,600–7,800 | 1/100 |
| New York City | $5,800–8,000 | 1/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Charleston
Similar safety, lower cost, in North America.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | Canada | $2,110–2,950 |
| Ottawa | Canada | $2,460–3,370 |
| Niagara Falls | Canada | $2,250–3,090 |
| Victoria | Canada | $2,530–3,440 |
| Calgary | Canada | $2,460–3,370 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Charleston?
About $2,400–3,200 on a lean budget, $3,800–5,500 for a comfortable month and $7,000–11,000 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Charleston?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs $2,200–3,200 ($2,200–3,200) a month in the center and $1,600–2,400 ($1,600–2,400) outside it.
How much does food cost in Charleston?
A local meal is $13–20 ($13–20); a mid-range restaurant is $30–55 ($30–55) per person.
Is United States expensive?
Prices in United States are about 100% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Charleston
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- CARTA
- Charleston International Airport
- Explore Charleston
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.