Cost of Living in South Carolina vs. Georgia

Cost of Living in South Carolina vs. Georgia: South Carolina and Georgia share a border and Southern charm, but their cost structures are anything but similar. The former offers lower property taxes, cheaper homeowners insurance, and more affordable rents, while the latter provides higher median incomes and a larger economy anchored by Atlanta. Both states enjoy below-average cost of living indices, with SC at roughly 92.7 and GA at 92.2. A 2026 tax overhaul in South Carolina has also narrowed a key difference with each currently utilizing simplified income tax structures. 

This comparison draws on 2025-2026 MIT, Census, Tax Foundation, and BEA data to help you weigh the tradeoffs.

Key Takeaways

1. The cost of living index sits nearly identical: South Carolina at roughly 92.7 and Georgia at approximately 92.2, meaning both states run about 7 to 8 percent below the national average.
2. Georgia’s median household income runs about 7,000 to 8,000 dollars higher than South Carolina’s, though home prices in Georgia also run higher by roughly 35,000 to 40,000 dollars.
3. South Carolina homeowners insurance averages 1,000 to 1,499 dollars annually, while Georgia averages 1,500 to 1,999 dollars, a gap of roughly 500 dollars per year.
4. South Carolina’s effective property tax rate of about 0.51 percent is significantly lower than Georgia’s roughly 0.79 percent, making a meaningful difference in annual carrying costs for homeowners.
5. Both states restructured their income taxes for 2026. Georgia now applies a flat rate of roughly 4.99 to 5.19 percent depending on the final legislative outcome. South Carolina replaced its old graduated system with two brackets, 1.99 percent up to 30,000 dollars and 5.21 percent above that threshold.
6. Childcare costs are substantial in both states. South Carolina infant care averages roughly 10,500 dollars annually, while Georgia averages approximately 11,000 to 11,900 dollars per year.
7. Georgia offers a larger, more diversified economy with a real GDP of roughly 888 billion dollars, while South Carolina’s economy, at about 352 billion dollars, posted the nation’s fastest real GDP growth in early 2025.

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At a Glance Comparison

1. Living Wage Comparison

The MIT Living Wage Calculator provides a baseline for what a single adult needs to cover basic necessities. For someone with no children, the annual living wage in South Carolina falls roughly between 45,000 and 47,000 dollars. Oppositely, Georgia requires approximately 46,000 to 48,000 dollars. The difference is modest, reflecting similar overall cost structures.

For families, the picture shifts. A single parent with one child needs to overcome higher combined housing and childcare costs in both states, but Georgia’s higher childcare expenses and slightly elevated housing costs push the required income upward. A family of four, with two working adults and two children, needs roughly 112,000 dollars annually in South Carolina to meet basic needs, with Georgia requiring a comparable or slightly higher amount.

South Carolina has no state-mandated minimum wage, so the federal 7.25 dollar rate applies. Georgia’s statutory minimum wage remains 5.15 dollars per hour, but the federal 7.25 dollar rate applies to most employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. In neither state does the applicable minimum wage approach the living wage threshold. This means low wage workers need supplemental income or public benefits to cover basic costs.

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2. Housing Costs

A. Home Prices

South Carolina’s median home value sits between 237,000 and 297,000 dollars, depending on the data source. The Charleston metro commands premium prices well above statewide averages, while more affordable markets like Columbia and Greenville pull the overall figure lower. Coastal areas, particularly Charleston and Hilton Head, carry significantly higher price tags.

Georgia’s statewide median home value ranges from approximately 273,000 to 335,000 dollars. Atlanta’s metro area drives the average, with suburban counties seeing significant demand, while Savannah, Augusta, and Macon offer more affordable alternatives.

B. Renting

Rental markets in both states have stabilized as new multifamily supply becomes available. SC’s median monthly gross rent sits at roughly 1,126 dollars, while GA’s rent runs closer to 1,306 dollars. Charleston rents remain above the statewide average, while Columbia and Greenville offer more budget-friendly options. In Georgia, Atlanta rents run well above their, while Augusta and Columbus provide economical rental stock.

C. Homeowners Insurance

Insurance is where South Carolina holds a clear advantage. South Carolina homeowners with a mortgage typically pay 1,000 to 1,499 dollars annually, making it one of the more affordable coastal states for insurance. Georgia homeowners with a mortgage average 1,500 to 2,000 dollars per year. The 500 dollar annual gap reflects Georgia’s higher exposure to severe weather, including tornadoes and hail, though neither state approaches the extreme premiums seen in Florida or Louisiana.

D. Property Taxes

South Carolina’s effective property tax rate averages about 0.51 percent, among the lowest in the nation. On a 275,000 dollar home, annual property taxes run approximately 1,400 dollars. Georgia’s effective rate, per Tax Foundation data, averages roughly 0.79 percent, ranging from about 0.35 percent in Towns and Twiggs counties to as high as 1.2 percent in Dougherty County. On a 300,000 dollar Georgia home, annual taxes remain close to 2,370 dollars. Over ten years, that gap can add roughly 8,000 to 10,000 dollars in extra property tax costs for Georgia homeowners on comparably valued properties.

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3. Economy and Taxes

A. Economic Landscape

Georgia’s economy is substantially larger, with a real GDP of roughly 888 billion dollars, ranking 8th in the country. Its economy spans logistics, film production, technology, finance, and manufacturing, anchored by the Port of Savannah and Atlanta’s position as a transportation hub. Keep in mind that GDP growth was essentially flat in the first quarter of 2025.

South Carolina’s real GDP sits around 352 billion dollars, ranking closer to the middle of the pack among states. Economic activity is driven by manufacturing, particularly automotive and aerospace, alongside coastal tourism and inland agriculture. South Carolina led the nation in real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025 at 1.7 percent and continued outpacing the national average through the year.

B. Tax Comparison

South Carolina overhauled its income tax for 2026, replacing the 0 to 6.4 percent graduated system with two brackets. The current system is 1.99 percent on the first 30,000 dollars of taxable income and 5.21 percent above that threshold. Georgia’s flat rate, set at 5.19 percent for 2025, is scheduled to fall toward 4.99 percent for 2026 under recently enacted legislation, though the exact final rate depends on revenue triggers. At 100,000 dollars of taxable income, a Georgia filer pays roughly 4,990 to 5,190 dollars. On the other hand, a South Carolina filer pays a comparable amount under the new structure. This is a closer outcome than the prior system implied. These changes narrow, but do not eliminate, South Carolina’s advantage in property taxes and insurance costs.

4. Safety

Using 2024 FBI data, Georgia’s violent crime rate sits around 343 per 100,000 residents, while South Carolina’s rate runs higher at approximately 454 per 100,000. Property crime follows a similar pattern, with Georgia at about 1,779 per 100,000 compared with South Carolina’s 2,116 per 100,000.

Statewide averages mask substantial local variation. Both include safe suburban communities, such as Mount Pleasant and Greenville in South Carolina and Alpharetta and Johns Creek in Georgia, alongside higher crime urban cores. Prospective movers should research specific cities and ZIP codes rather than relying on statewide rankings.

5. Climate and Geography

South Carolina spans the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest to the Atlantic coastline in the east, with a humid subtropical climate throughout. Summers are hot and humid, coastal areas face hurricane risk from June through November, and the state experiences occasional tornadoes and flooding in low-lying areas.

Georgia covers a broader geographic range, from the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the Okefenokee Swamp and Atlantic coast in the south. Coastal Georgia experiences hurricane risk, while inland areas contend with tornadoes and occasional winter ice storms. For cost purposes, climate matters most through insurance. Georgia’s higher premiums reflect its severe weather exposure, while South Carolina’s insurance remains surprisingly low despite meaningful coastal flood and wind exposure around Charleston.

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6. Education

South Carolina ranks roughly 40th among states in overall education quality, with K-12 outcomes a persistent challenge, though the state has seen improvement in graduation rates and test scores. Clemson University and the University of South Carolina are the flagship public universities, with in-state tuition ranging from roughly 12,000 to 15,000 dollars annually.

Georgia performs more favorably in education rankings, with strong K-12 systems in suburban Atlanta and growing school choice options. The state’s public university system is led by the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Emory University, all nationally ranked. In-state tuition at Georgia’s flagship universities runs roughly 10,000 to 12,000 dollars annually, somewhat more affordable than South Carolina’s despite Georgia’s noteworthy K-12 performance.

7. Childcare

Childcare is a significant and often underappreciated cost in both states.

South Carolina’s average annual infant care cost runs roughly 10,474 dollars, close to 873 dollars per month. Georgia’s infant care costs range anywhere from 11,066 to 11,863 dollars annually. The gap of roughly 600 to 1,400 dollars per year for one infant adds up over multiple years, and for a family with two young children, cumulative savings in South Carolina can reach 1,200 to 2,800 dollars annually. Both areas offer subsidized childcare for income eligible families, though waitlists are common in major metros.

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8. Healthcare

Healthcare access and costs differ meaningfully between the two regions. Georgia’s uninsured rate stands at roughly 12 percent, among the highest in the nation, while South Carolina’s uninsured rate is approximately 9 to 10 percent. Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving a coverage gap for low income adults. Meanwhile, South Carolina likewise has not expanded Medicaid, though its uninsured rate remains lower.

For Medicare covered retirees, each offers reasonable access to care in urban and suburban areas, though rural parts of both states face provider shortages. Employer-sponsored insurance remains the primary coverage pathway for most working households in both states.

9. Additional Cost Considerations

1. Utilities: South Carolina electricity averages roughly 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, with monthly bills around 150 dollars. Georgia electricity runs approximately 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, with typical bills near 133 dollars.
2. Gas Prices: Gasoline prices in both states track national trends, with South Carolina and Georgia both ranking among the more affordable states for fuel. The difference between the two is minimal, typically under 10 cents per gallon.
3. Groceries: Grocery costs for each sit near or slightly below the national average. South Carolina’s grocery index is modestly lower than Georgia’s in most data sets, though the difference is typically under 2 to 3 percent, amounting to a few hundred dollars annually for a typical family.
4. Transportation: Both states remain car-dependent outside Atlanta and Charleston. South Carolina’s vehicle registration fees vary by county and vehicle value, while Georgia imposes an annual ad valorem tax on vehicles. Atlanta’s extensive toll network adds commuting costs for metro residents, while South Carolina’s toll system is more limited.

Conclusion

Neither South Carolina nor Georgia emerges as a universal winner. South Carolina holds a clear edge in homeowners insurance, property taxes, and rent, making it more attractive for renters and cost-conscious homeowners. Georgia offers higher median incomes and a larger, more diversified economy, and its 2026 tax cuts keep it competitive on income tax even as South Carolina’s own reform narrows that gap.

For retirees, South Carolina’s lower property taxes and insurance costs make it the ideal financial choice, though Georgia’s retirement income exclusions offer meaningful offsets. With families, South Carolina’s lower childcare costs provide savings, while Georgia’s proven education systems may justify higher expenses. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize lower recurring costs or higher earning potential and economic diversity.

FAQs About the Cost of Living in South Carolina vs. Georgia

1. Is Georgia really that much more expensive than South Carolina in 2026?

Not dramatically. The cost of living index difference is roughly 0.5 points, with Georgia at 92.2 versus South Carolina at 92.7. Georgia carries higher home prices, insurance, and childcare costs, but also higher median incomes. The difference is meaningful for homeowners and families with young children but modest for renters and singles.

2. How much salary do you need in Georgia to match a South Carolina lifestyle?

A household earning 80,000 dollars in South Carolina would need roughly 82,000 to 85,000 dollars in Georgia to maintain the same standard of living, based on the roughly 5 to 7 percent cost of living gap. The figure varies on housing choices, since Georgia’s higher home prices and rents drive the largest cost difference.

3. Which state is better for retirees in 2026?

South Carolina generally offers a more suitable financial case for retirees, given lower property taxes and cheaper homeowners insurance that preserve fixed incomes. Georgia’s higher property taxes and insurance costs erode purchasing power somewhat, though Georgia offers a 65,000 dollar retirement income exclusion for residents aged 62 and older, which can offset much of that gap.

4. Are people still moving to South Carolina and Georgia in 2026?

Yes. Each continues attracting domestic migrants, particularly from higher cost Northeast and West Coast markets. South Carolina ranks among the nation’s fastest growing states and a top destination for retirees, while Georgia’s Atlanta metro remains a magnet for corporate relocations and job seekers. Migration has moderated from pandemic-era peaks but remains positive in both states.

5. Which state is better for remote workers in 2026?

South Carolina offers the more reliable financial case for most remote workers, given lower rent, insurance costs, and property taxes that let workers keep more of their income as savings. Georgia competes for remote workers who prioritize urban amenities, professional networking, and a larger job market. South Carolina’s key advantage is lower recurring costs; Georgia’s are higher income potential and economic diversity.