Richmond vs North Charleston: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Richmond, CA and North Charleston, SC, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Richmond, CA | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,619 | 115,755 |
| Median household income | $86,618 | $58,534 |
| Median home value | $624,800 | $243,300 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,853 | $1,288 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Richmond, CA and North Charleston, SC comes down to what you value most. North Charleston has the lower median home value, and North Charleston has the lower median rent.
Richmond has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Richmond or North Charleston?
- By median home value, North Charleston is the cheaper of the two ($243,300 vs $624,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Richmond or North Charleston?
- Median household income is $86,618 in Richmond versus $58,534 in North Charleston, per the US Census Bureau.