City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 2.3% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $102,300 in Phoenix, AZ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,552 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Charleston, SC to Phoenix, AZ ($106,437 → $111,338), while prices change by +2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.2% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,332 in Phoenix | $97,722 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Phoenix, AZ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$2,552/yr.
62 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Charleston, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$2,552/yr.
74 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Charleston → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,564 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,117 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,629 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,338 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,568 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $110,310 | $130,360 | $127,390 (+15.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $131,750 | $128,748 (−2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $80,820 | $78,979 (−0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $100,830 | $98,533 (+6.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.