City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 5.1% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $105,100 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 $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Charleston, SC to Springfield, MA ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by −4.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +18.6% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,146 in Springfield | $105,102 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.1%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$63/yr.
85 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$63/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Springfield, MA | Real change, Charleston → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +18.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +18.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +18.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +18.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +18.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $79,640 | $83,703 (+37.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $127,740 | $134,257 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $92,010 | $96,704 (+21.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $98,410 | $103,431 (+11.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.