CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Reno, NV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
NV
Reno
101
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Charleston and Reno have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.1%
Charleston
119.8
Reno
123.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Reno
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Charleston
103.2
Reno
103.7
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charleston
93.4
Reno
93.8
Utilities+1.2%
Charleston
88.2
Reno
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Reno, NV
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 101) = salary × 1.0000. 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×

Reno, NV

Median Home Price
$551,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
123.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.2×

Reno has 3.1% 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

Reno, NV

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
264,165
Top Industries
GamingHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyLogistics

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)

Reno, NV
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.