City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Durham, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 3.5% higher than in Durham, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Durham, NC would need about $103,500 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,507 in Durham, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 24% in Durham, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,362 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Durham, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Charleston, SC to Durham, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by −3.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.1% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Durham, NC: price level 97.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 97.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,642 in Durham | $103,474 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $60,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 98.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 97.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Durham, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,362/yr.
80 Strong offer
Durham, NC → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.4%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,362/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Durham, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Durham, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Durham, NC | Real change, Charleston → Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +8.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +8.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +8.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Durham, NC | Durham pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $51,400 | $53,186 (−12.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $135,620 | $140,332 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $85,090 | $88,046 (+11.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | not published | — |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.