CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Orlando, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
FL
Orlando
101.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Charleston and Orlando have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.0%
Charleston
119.8
Orlando
123.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Orlando
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Charleston
103.2
Orlando
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charleston
93.4
Orlando
93.9
Utilities1.1%
Charleston
88.2
Orlando
87.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Orlando, FL
$80,300
$300 more needed in Orlando

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×

Orlando, FL

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
123.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Orlando has 3.0% 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

Orlando, FL

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
307,573
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareTechnologyRetailEducation

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)

Orlando, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.