City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Reno, NV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charleston, SC (101.0) and Reno, NV (101.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charleston, SC goes as far as $100,100 in Reno, NV.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,489 in Reno, NV. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 23% in Reno, NV.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.4% moving from Charleston, SC to Reno, NV ($106,437 → $106,855), while prices change by +0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.3% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Reno, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,052 in Reno | $99,949 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,489/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (NV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Reno-Fernley, NV |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Reno, NV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 123.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 101.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
69 Fair offer
Reno, NV → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Reno, NV is in Reno-Fernley, NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Reno, NV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Reno, NV | Real change, Charleston → Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,965 | +0.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,972 | +0.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,859 | +0.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,855 | +0.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,271 | +0.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Reno, NV | Reno pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $62,430 | $62,398 (+2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $125,710 | $125,645 (−4.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $82,370 | $82,328 (+3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $107,520 | $107,465 (+15.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.