CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Spokane is slightly cheaper than Charleston — 0.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $79,400 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.9%
Charleston
119.8
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+9.0%
Charleston
96.3
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation+1.2%
Charleston
103.2
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.2%
Charleston
93.4
Spokane
94.5
Utilities+3.4%
Charleston
88.2
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$79,400
$600 less needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9931. 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×

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Charleston has 18.9% lower housing costs compared to Spokane.

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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

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)

Spokane, WA
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.