North Charleston, SC Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for North Charleston, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in North Charleston →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 115,755 people call North Charleston, South Carolina home. Household income runs $58,534 at the median, below what we see across the broader set of cities (-19%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to North Charleston. The median home value sits at $243,300 (below the multi-city median at -26%), while renters pay a median of $1,288 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
North Charleston's home-price-to-income ratio of about 4.2× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Prices in the area have gained 2.3% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around North Charleston. Climate and natural-hazard risk in North Charleston runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,288/mo in North Charleston would take 26.4% of your income.
$175/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($243,300) would take 26.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$67/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in North Charleston
Median home value is $243,300 and median gross rent is $1,288/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Charleston rose 2.3% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,787/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates North Charleston's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
North Charleston reported a violent crime rate of 669.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to North Charleston
Planning a move to North Charleston? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in North Charleston, SC?
- For a quick read on North Charleston: homes carry a median value of $243,300, rent runs a median $1,288 monthly, and household income is a median $58,534, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in North Charleston?
- Comfortably affording rent in North Charleston — where the median runs $1,288/month — typically means earning about $51,520 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for North Charleston.
- Is it better to rent or buy in North Charleston?
- Renting in North Charleston at the median $1,288/month calls for about $51,520 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $243,300 takes roughly $55,666 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is North Charleston safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, North Charleston's violent crime rate was 669.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for North Charleston →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of North Charleston's.