Cost of living in North Charleston

In North Charleston, United States, living costs about $2365 per month for one person and $5018 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is North Charleston compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in North Charleston are 66% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does North Charleston compare to your city?

North Charleston is 30% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in North Charleston is, on average, 9% higher than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in North Charleston?

Who is North Charleston a good fit for?

North Charleston is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by rent & utilities and food. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is North Charleston so expensive?

The high cost of living in North Charleston is primarily driven by elevated rent and utility expenses. These factors significantly contribute to the overall living costs.

Is food expensive in North Charleston?

Yes, food costs are 43% higher than the European benchmark, making it a notable expense for residents.

Is public transport affordable in North Charleston?

Public transport is relatively affordable, being 31% lower than the European benchmark. This can help mitigate some living costs for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2365 $
Without Rent
885 $
Rent & Utilities
1480 $
Food
679 $
Transport
52 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3938 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
115.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 19.8 $
Dinner 89.2 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.97 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.96 $
Capuccino 5.27 $
Coke, 330ml 2.43 $

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Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.98 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 4.06 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.99 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.89 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.5 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.7 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 19 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.31 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.43 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 6.04 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.6 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 4.27 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.22 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.23 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.62 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 16 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.74 $
Cigarette pack 8.48 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.06 $
Monthly Pass 57.2 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.85 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.7 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 116 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.29 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 5.43 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.99 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.05 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 113 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 174 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 75.2 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,179 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,771 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,738 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,796 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 3,067 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,807 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,938 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.45%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 42.6 $
Cinema, 1 seat 12.2 $
Haircut 16.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 98.1 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 56.5 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,261 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 25,691 $

Compare North Charleston with other top cities

Cayman Islands
North Charleston vs George Town (George Town is 54% more expensive)
Bahamas
North Charleston vs Nassau (Nassau is 16% more expensive) North Charleston vs Freeport (Freeport is 7% less expensive)
Vanuatu
North Charleston vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 1% less expensive) North Charleston vs Luganville (Luganville is 29% more expensive)
United States
North Charleston vs New York City (New York City is 71% more expensive) North Charleston vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 35% more expensive) North Charleston vs Chicago (Chicago is 13% more expensive) North Charleston vs Houston (Houston is 5% less expensive) North Charleston vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 0% more expensive) North Charleston vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 7% more expensive) North Charleston vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 7% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Diego (San Diego is 41% more expensive) North Charleston vs Dallas (Dallas is 8% more expensive) North Charleston vs San Jose (San Jose is 55% more expensive)
Canada
North Charleston vs Toronto (Toronto is 9% more expensive) North Charleston vs Montreal (Montreal is 17% less expensive) North Charleston vs Calgary (Calgary is 9% less expensive) North Charleston vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 5% less expensive) North Charleston vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 25% less expensive) North Charleston vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 26% less expensive) North Charleston vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 5% more expensive) North Charleston vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 12% more expensive) North Charleston vs Brampton (Brampton is 10% less expensive) North Charleston vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 9% less expensive)
Barbados
North Charleston vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 42% less expensive) North Charleston vs Holetown (Holetown is 41% less expensive)
Panama
North Charleston vs Panama City (Panama City is 41% less expensive) North Charleston vs Colon (Colon is 50% less expensive) North Charleston vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 48% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 55% less expensive) North Charleston vs David (David is 65% less expensive) North Charleston vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 60% less expensive) North Charleston vs Balboa (Balboa is 47% less expensive) North Charleston vs Pacora (Pacora is 47% less expensive) North Charleston vs Chitre (Chitre is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs Penonome (Penonome is 54% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
North Charleston vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 48% less expensive) North Charleston vs Cayon (Cayon is 47% less expensive)
Cuba
North Charleston vs Havana (Havana is 57% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 40% less expensive) North Charleston vs Holguin (Holguin is 46% less expensive) North Charleston vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 36% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 55% less expensive) North Charleston vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 51% less expensive) North Charleston vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 34% less expensive) North Charleston vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 34% less expensive) North Charleston vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 63% less expensive)
Costa Rica
North Charleston vs San Jose (San Jose is 48% less expensive) North Charleston vs Limon (Limon is 49% less expensive) North Charleston vs Liberia (Liberia is 62% less expensive) North Charleston vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 48% less expensive) North Charleston vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 46% less expensive) North Charleston vs Cartago (Cartago is 59% less expensive) North Charleston vs Heredia (Heredia is 47% less expensive) North Charleston vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 29% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 45% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
North Charleston vs Castries (Castries is 51% less expensive) North Charleston vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 49% less expensive)
Jamaica
North Charleston vs Kingston (Kingston is 44% less expensive) North Charleston vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 67% less expensive) North Charleston vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 57% less expensive) North Charleston vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 51% less expensive) North Charleston vs May Pen (May Pen is 65% less expensive) North Charleston vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 59% less expensive) North Charleston vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 64% less expensive) North Charleston vs Linstead (Linstead is 56% less expensive) North Charleston vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 53% less expensive) North Charleston vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 52% less expensive)
El Salvador
North Charleston vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 50% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 70% less expensive) North Charleston vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 50% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 51% less expensive) North Charleston vs Apopa (Apopa is 52% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 49% less expensive) North Charleston vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 38% less expensive) North Charleston vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 63% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
North Charleston vs St. John's (St. John's is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs All Saints (All Saints is 54% less expensive)
Grenada
North Charleston vs St. George's (St. George's is 55% less expensive) North Charleston vs Grenville (Grenville is 55% less expensive)
Dominica
North Charleston vs Roseau (Roseau is 58% less expensive) North Charleston vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 52% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
North Charleston vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 59% less expensive) North Charleston vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 58% less expensive)
Belize
North Charleston vs Belize City (Belize City is 63% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 54% less expensive) North Charleston vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 69% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 44% less expensive) North Charleston vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 33% less expensive)
Guatemala
North Charleston vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 58% less expensive) North Charleston vs Mixco (Mixco is 73% less expensive) North Charleston vs Coban (Coban is 61% less expensive) North Charleston vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 67% less expensive) North Charleston vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 62% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 62% less expensive) North Charleston vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 63% less expensive) North Charleston vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 63% less expensive) North Charleston vs Flores (Flores is 64% less expensive) North Charleston vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 67% less expensive)
Honduras
North Charleston vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 65% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 56% less expensive) North Charleston vs Choloma (Choloma is 75% less expensive) North Charleston vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 73% less expensive) North Charleston vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 63% less expensive) North Charleston vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 63% less expensive) North Charleston vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 70% less expensive) North Charleston vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 70% less expensive) North Charleston vs Yoro (Yoro is 69% less expensive) North Charleston vs La Lima (La Lima is 63% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
North Charleston vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 66% less expensive) North Charleston vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 56% less expensive) North Charleston vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 68% less expensive) North Charleston vs Higuey (Higuey is 67% less expensive) North Charleston vs La Vega (La Vega is 76% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 65% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 69% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 78% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 74% less expensive) North Charleston vs Bonao (Bonao is 77% less expensive)
Nicaragua
North Charleston vs Managua (Managua is 67% less expensive) North Charleston vs Leon (Leon is 73% less expensive) North Charleston vs Masaya (Masaya is 70% less expensive) North Charleston vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 77% less expensive) North Charleston vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 73% less expensive) North Charleston vs Esteli (Esteli is 75% less expensive) North Charleston vs Granada (Granada is 71% less expensive) North Charleston vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 81% less expensive) North Charleston vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 72% less expensive) North Charleston vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 62% less expensive)