CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Medford, OR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
OR
Medford
101.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Charleston and Medford have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.4%
Charleston
119.8
Medford
97.7
🛒 Groceries+9.3%
Charleston
96.3
Medford
105.3
🚗 Transportation+2.0%
Charleston
103.2
Medford
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.0%
Charleston
93.4
Medford
95.3
Utilities+16.0%
Charleston
88.2
Medford
102.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Medford, OR
$80,300
$300 more needed in Medford

Formula: salary × (101.4 ÷ 101) = salary × 1.0040. 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×

Medford, OR

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.8×

Charleston has 18.4% lower housing costs compared to Medford.

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

Medford, OR

Median Household Income
$71,700
Per Capita Income
$40,900
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
85,824
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureRetailManufacturingTourism

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)

Medford, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.