CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Minneapolis, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
MN
Minneapolis
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Minneapolis — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $83,000 in Minneapolis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.7%
Charleston
119.8
Minneapolis
111.8
🛒 Groceries+7.1%
Charleston
96.3
Minneapolis
103.1
🚗 Transportation+6.2%
Charleston
103.2
Minneapolis
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+6.2%
Charleston
93.4
Minneapolis
99.2
Utilities+6.0%
Charleston
88.2
Minneapolis
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Minneapolis, MN
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Minneapolis

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 101) = salary × 1.0376. 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×

Minneapolis, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Charleston has 6.7% lower housing costs compared to Minneapolis.

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

Minneapolis, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
429,606
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareRetailManufacturingTechnology

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)

Minneapolis, MN
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.