City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 1.5% higher than in Charleston, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charleston, SC would need about $101,500 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC and $1,599 in Worcester, 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 +13.3% moving from Charleston, SC to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.5% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,546 in Worcester | $98,477 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,599/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% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$63/yr.
63 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Charleston, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$63/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Worcester, MA | Real change, Charleston → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $82,810 | $81,549 (+33.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $146,950 | $144,713 (+9.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $94,070 | $92,638 (+16.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $100,240 | $98,714 (+6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.