City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Colorado Springs, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charleston, SC (101.0) and Colorado Springs, CO (100.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charleston, SC goes as far as $99,700 in Colorado Springs, CO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 23% in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,151 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.6% moving from Charleston, SC to Colorado Springs, CO ($106,437 → $109,246), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.9% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Colorado Springs, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 100.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,747 in Colorado Springs | $100,253 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,464/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $52,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Colorado Springs, CO |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Colorado Springs, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 116.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 83.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 100.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,151/yr.
70 Fair offer
Colorado Springs, CO → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,151/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Colorado Springs, CO is in Colorado Springs, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Colorado Springs, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Colorado Springs, CO | Real change, Charleston → Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,351 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,650 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,870 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $109,246 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $129,096 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,140 | $61,295 (+0.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $134,280 | $134,620 (+1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $85,000 | $85,215 (+7.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $96,140 | $96,383 (+3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.