CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Kennewick, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Kennewick
100.1
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Kennewick is slightly cheaper than Charleston — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $79,300 in Kennewick. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.9%
Charleston
119.8
Kennewick
94.8
🛒 Groceries+9.0%
Charleston
96.3
Kennewick
105
🚗 Transportation+1.2%
Charleston
103.2
Kennewick
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.2%
Charleston
93.4
Kennewick
94.5
Utilities+6.1%
Charleston
88.2
Kennewick
93.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Kennewick, WA
$79,300
$700 less needed in Kennewick

Formula: salary × (100.1 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9911. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

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

Kennewick, WA

Median Home Price
$431,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
94.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Charleston has 20.9% lower housing costs compared to Kennewick.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

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

Kennewick, WA

Median Household Income
$83,100
Per Capita Income
$47,400
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
84,347
Top Industries
EnergyAgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Kennewick, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.