City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Mobile, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 14.6% higher than in Mobile, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Mobile, AL would need about $114,600 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $919 in Mobile, AL. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 15% in Mobile, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,735 in AL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Mobile, AL changes real buying power by +14.6%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Mobile, AL: price level 88.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Mobile, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 88.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,259 in Mobile | $114,602 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $919/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $47,000 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Mobile, AL MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Mobile, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 60.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 84.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 88.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Mobile, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$108/yr.
100 Strong offer
Mobile, AL → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$108/yr.
36 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Mobile, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Mobile, AL | Real change, Charleston → Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +14.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +14.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +14.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +14.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +14.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Mobile, AL | Mobile pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,970 | $69,873 (+14.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $122,540 | $140,433 (+6.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $72,130 | $82,662 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $79,490 | $91,097 (−1.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.