Cost of living comparison
South Carolina is 12.5% cheaper than Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 8.0% less in South Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 11.4% less in South Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 9.8% less in South Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 8.4% less in South Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 21.0% less in South Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 20.7% less in South Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 8.3% less in South Carolina
Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, housing, and clothing are lower in South Carolina.
If you lived in South Carolina instead of Virginia, you would:
pay 8.0% less for restaurants
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.49
|
$17.57
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.13
|
$10.40
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.48
|
$2.41
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
|
$1.86
|
|
pay 11.4% less for groceries
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.44
|
$3.02
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.98
|
$4.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.79
|
$3.25
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.41
|
$2.94
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.54
|
$4.81
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.62
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
|
$0.81
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$2.11
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
|
$1.90
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$1.25
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 9.8% less for transportation
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.36
|
$3.08
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.15
|
$49.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,788.87
|
$30,676.82
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.99
|
$19.29
|
|
pay 8.4% less for housing
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.48
|
$63.14
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,832.03
|
$1,510.93
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.84
|
$1,398.21
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.31
|
$144.70
|
|
pay 21.0% less for childcare
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,614.20
|
$1,335.89
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,849.72
|
$21,679.50
|
|
pay 20.7% less for entertainment and sports
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.17
|
$4.79
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.19
|
$5.08
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.03
|
$7.37
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$58.19
|
$29.76
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
|
$12.57
|
|
pay 8.3% less for clothing
|
Virginia
|
South Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.05
|
$45.07
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.36
|
$39.58
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.16
|
$89.11
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.91
|
$113.24
|
|
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