CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Grand Junction, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableCO
Grand Junction
95.5
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Grand Junction is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $75,600 in Grand Junction. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing27.9%
Charleston
119.8
Grand Junction
86.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Grand Junction
96.1
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Charleston
103.2
Grand Junction
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Charleston
93.4
Grand Junction
94.8
Utilities5.6%
Charleston
88.2
Grand Junction
83.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Grand Junction, CO
$75,600
$4,400 less needed in Grand Junction

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9455. 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×

Grand Junction, CO

Median Home Price
$418,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.2×

Charleston has 27.9% lower housing costs compared to Grand Junction.

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

Grand Junction, CO

Median Household Income
$64,700
Per Capita Income
$36,900
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
64,785
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareAgricultureRetailGovernment

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)

Grand Junction, CO
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.