City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 2.7% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $102,700 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,682 in Olympia, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.4% moving from Charleston, SC to Olympia, WA ($106,437 → $119,630), while prices change by +2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.5% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,682 in Olympia | $97,388 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
60 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Charleston, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Olympia, WA | Real change, Charleston → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,373 | +9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,935 | +9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,602 | +9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $119,630 | +9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,367 | +9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $104,650 | $101,916 (+67.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $124,060 | $120,819 (−8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $94,470 | $92,002 (+15.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $125,020 | $121,754 (+31.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.