City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 8.9% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $108,900 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 $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 15% in Utica, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,860 in NY.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Utica, NY changes real buying power by +8.9%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,795 in Utica | $108,938 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
97 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
41 Weak offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Utica, NY | Real change, Charleston → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $110,310 | $98,280 | $107,065 (−2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $113,390 | $123,525 (−6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $79,830 | $86,966 (+9.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $94,300 | $102,729 (+10.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.