Residential comparison · 13 facts
Charleston, SC vs Hilton Head Island, SC
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Charleston needs about $77,500 in Hilton Head Island to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Hilton Head Island, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $92,500 in Charleston.
A few differences
- Charleston is lower on property tax rate (0.5% vs 0.55%).
- Hilton Head Island is lower on sales tax (7.5% vs 9%).
- Hilton Head Island is lower on groceries index (98 vs 103).
Charleston vs Hilton Head Island · facet by facet
| Facet | Charleston, SC | Hilton Head Island, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $550,000 | $687,400 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,050/mo | $1,707/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.5% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.39% | 3.39% |
| Sales tax | 9% | 7.5% |
| Cost of living index | 108 | 118 |
| Groceries index | 103 | 98 |
| Utilities | $185/mo | $175/mo |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $94,657 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3.5% |
| Crime index | 42/100 | 65/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 5.0/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 230 days | 220 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Charleston, SC · Hilton Head Island, SC
Questions & answers
- Is Charleston cheaper than Hilton Head Island?
- Charleston has the lower day-to-day cost index (108 vs 118 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Hilton Head Island equals $85,000 in Charleston?
- A household earning $85,000 in Charleston needs about $77,500 in Hilton Head Island to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Hilton Head Island lifestyle costs about $92,500 in Charleston.