Cost of living in Charleston
compared to
Cost of living in Charleston vs. United States overall average
Charleston is 17.8% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 16.8% more in Charleston
- Groceries
-
pay 36.7% more in Charleston
- Transportation
-
pay 6.8% less in Charleston
- Housing
-
pay 30.9% more in Charleston
- Childcare
-
pay 19.9% more in Charleston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.7% more in Charleston
- Clothing
-
pay 23.7% more in Charleston
The cost of groceries, housing, clothing, childcare, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in Charleston are more expensive than in United States.
Charleston Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $25.00 |
$14.00
$14.00
$45.00
$45.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.40 |
$10.00
$10.00
$15.00
$15.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.90 |
$2.00
$2.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.46 |
$2.00
$2.00
$5.00
$5.00
|
Charleston - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.44 |
$3.78
$3.78
$4.96
$4.96
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $9.38 |
$4.41
$4.41
$11.62
$11.62
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.94 |
$3.00
$3.00
$5.00
$5.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.73 |
$1.80
$1.80
$6.00
$6.00
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $6.25 |
$2.99
$2.99
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $4.25 |
$1.99
$1.99
$5.99
$5.99
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.83 |
$0.59
$0.59
$1.00
$1.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.12 |
$1.50
$1.50
$7.00
$7.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $3.15 |
$2.49
$2.49
$4.50
$4.50
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $2.95 |
$1.50
$1.50
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $2.20 |
$0.89
$0.89
$3.00
$3.00
|
Charleston - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $2.99 |
$2.72
$2.72
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $57.00 |
$57.00
$57.00
$65.00
$65.00
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $35,699.74 |
$30,000.00
$30K
$36,570.00
$37K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $15.53 |
$12.94
$12.94
$15.53
$15.53
|
Charleston - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$78.75 |
$50.00
$50.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $2,675.00 |
$2,000.00
$2K
$3,500.00
$4K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,800.00 |
$1,600.00
$2K
$2,000.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$182.70 |
$130.00
$130.00
$260.00
$260.00
|
Charleston - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,467.33 |
$1,284.00
$1K
$2,000.00
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $31,080.00 |
$26,000.00
$26K
$32,350.00
$32K
|
Charleston - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $7.00 |
$5.00
$5.00
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.92 |
$4.00
$4.00
$9.00
$9.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.50 |
$7.00
$7.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $48.57 |
$20.00
$20.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $15.50 |
$12.00
$12.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
Charleston - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$75.67 |
$30.00
$30.00
$85.00
$85.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$49.17 |
$30.00
$30.00
$60.00
$60.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$95.80 |
$60.00
$60.00
$130.00
$130.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $134.00 |
$60.00
$60.00
$200.00
$200.00
|
Charleston - Cost of clothing
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