Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Charleston, SC

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 45% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 51.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 49.4% more expensive than Charleston, SC without rent, and 76.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$17.95 $17.95
65.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$79.7 $79.7
81.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$9.9 $9.9
25.56%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.04 $5.04
15.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.42 $2.42
34.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.95 $1.95
32.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.9 $5.9
39.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$7.94 $7.94
49.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1 $1
56.00%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.75 $3.75
39.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.22 $3.22
151.86%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.45 $4.45
62.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$13.9 $13.9
22.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$15.05 $15.05
7.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$17.03 $17.03
17.56%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$5.79 $5.79
29.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.66 $1.66
53.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$6.68 $6.68
-12.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.02 $4.02
62.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.67 $3.67
1.36%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.76 $2.76
41.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.78 $1.78
72.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.87 $1.87
37.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$7.62 $7.62
152.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$17.74 $17.74
0.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.78 $1.78
69.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.32 $3.32
12.05%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.96 $1.96
48.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$57.3 $57.3
133.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.91 $2.91
76.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.53 $1.53
40.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$20.37 $20.37
104.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.84 $0.84
13.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$32.7K $32.7K
7.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$24.6K $24.6K
12.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$141 $141
26.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$54.8 $54.8
9.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$73.4 $73.4
-13.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$29.53 $29.53
376.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$18.1 $18.1
253.04%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$13.29 $13.29
49.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,313 $1,313
144.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$24.2K $24.2K
133.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$49.68 $49.68
32.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$36.64 $36.64
33.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$94.6 $94.6
17.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$153 $153
11.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,577 $2,577
61.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,687 $1,687
57.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$4,414 $4,414
90.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$2,638 $2,638
100.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$4,656 $4,656
235.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$3,200 $3,200
248.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$4,603 $4,603
22.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.51
-1.08%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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