CostIndexUSA

Bend, OR vs Charleston, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OR
Bend
103.6
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableSC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent

Charleston is slightly cheaper than Bend — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bend, you would need $78,000 in Charleston. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.9%
Bend
110
Charleston
119.8
🛒 Groceries8.5%
Bend
105.3
Charleston
96.3
🚗 Transportation2.0%
Bend
105.3
Charleston
103.2
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Bend
95.3
Charleston
93.4
Utilities16.0%
Bend
105
Charleston
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charleston, SC
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Charleston

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9749. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bend, OR

Median Home Price
$653,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
110
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Charleston, SC

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

Charleston has 8.9% higher housing costs compared to Bend.

Income & Job Market

Bend, OR

Median Household Income
$91,700
Per Capita Income
$52,300
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
102,059
Top Industries
TourismTechnologyHealthcareRetailConstruction

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).

Bend, OR
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.