CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs York, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordablePA
York
96
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

York is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 5.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $76,000 in York. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing33.4%
Charleston
119.8
York
79.8
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Charleston
96.3
York
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Charleston
103.2
York
102.6
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Charleston
93.4
York
92.8
Utilities+21.3%
Charleston
88.2
York
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in York, PA
$76,000
$4,000 less needed in York

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9505. 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×

York, PA

Median Home Price
$297,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
79.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Charleston has 33.4% lower housing costs compared to York.

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

York, PA

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
44,619
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducationAgriculture

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)

York, PA
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.