CostIndexUSA

Atlantic City, NJ vs Charleston, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,225/mo rent
SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Atlantic City is slightly cheaper than Charleston — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlantic City, you would need $81,700 in Charleston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+21.4%
Atlantic City
98.7
Charleston
119.8
🛒 Groceries3.5%
Atlantic City
99.8
Charleston
96.3
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Atlantic City
102.8
Charleston
103.2
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Atlantic City
93
Charleston
93.4
Utilities19.2%
Atlantic City
109.2
Charleston
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlantic City to see what you'd need to earn in Charleston to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Charleston, SC
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Charleston

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 98.9) = salary × 1.0212. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$369,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,225
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Charleston has 21.4% higher housing costs compared to Atlantic City.

Income & Job Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
6%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlantic City, NJ
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.