CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Gilbert, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
AZ
Gilbert
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Gilbert — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $81,800 in Gilbert. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+1.2%
Charleston
119.8
Gilbert
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Charleston
96.3
Gilbert
95
🚗 Transportation+5.8%
Charleston
103.2
Gilbert
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.8%
Charleston
93.4
Gilbert
98.8
Utilities+5.8%
Charleston
88.2
Gilbert
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charleston to see what you'd need to earn in Gilbert to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Gilbert, AZ
$81,800
$1,800 more needed in Gilbert

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 101) = salary × 1.0228. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Gilbert, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Gilbert has 1.2% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Gilbert, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
254,114
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Gilbert, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.