Best places to live in South Carolina
CityLedger tracks 7 South Carolina metros, led by Hilton Head Island. Cost of living runs from about 87 to 101 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 7 metros in South Carolina, the largest being the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metro Area (around 996,680 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $56,475 in Florence to $90,307 in Charleston, and typical rent from $1,023 a month in Florence upward — a reminder that "South Carolina" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Florence has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 87 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Hilton Head Island delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $90,135.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: South Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.5% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and South Carolina state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Hilton Head Island earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 72/100; Spartanburg is the fastest-growing, up 23.8% over the latest population estimate; Spartanburg carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $10 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 72 | 98 | $88,348 | $1,903/mo |
| Charleston, SC | 67 | 101 | $90,307 | $1,714/mo |
| Greenville, SC | 52 | 93 | $75,881 | $1,236/mo |
| Columbia, SC | 44 | 94 | $70,788 | $1,257/mo |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 37 | 94 | $68,534 | $1,433/mo |
| Spartanburg, SC | 36 | 91 | $68,505 | $1,139/mo |
| Florence, SC | 23 | 87 | $56,475 | $1,023/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in South Carolina — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in South Carolina?
- By overall price level, Florence is the most affordable metro in South Carolina, at about 87 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in South Carolina?
- Hilton Head Island has the highest cost-adjusted income in South Carolina — a median of about $90,135 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does South Carolina have a state income tax?
- Yes. South Carolina levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.5%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which South Carolina metro has the highest livability score?
- Hilton Head Island, at 72/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.