City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Portland, OR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 4.4% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $104,400 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,677 in Portland, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,077 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Charleston, SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +7.7% moving from Charleston, SC to Portland, OR ($106,437 → $114,684), while prices change by +4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.2% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Portland, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 105.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,417 in Portland | $95,770 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,677/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $71,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $7,920 (OR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 28% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $60,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 125.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 100.1 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 105.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.2%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,077/yr.
51 Fair offer
Portland, OR → Charleston, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.4%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,077/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Portland, OR is in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Portland, OR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Portland, OR | Real change, Charleston → Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $66,505 | +3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $80,465 | +3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $96,443 | +3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $114,684 | +3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $135,522 | +3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Portland, OR | Portland pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $82,330 | $78,848 (+29.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $156,000 | $149,402 (+13.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $92,200 | $88,300 (+11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $130,310 | $124,798 (+34.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.