Real Estate & Cost of Living

The growing demand for housing has spawned a number of new residential opportunities throughout the region, and most price ranges are well represented. For current residential real estate listings, visit the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

MSA Residential Home Sales by Zip Code Area

ZIP Code

Median Selling
Price, 2008

Average Selling
Price, 2008

29405

$154,000

$174,906

29406

$148,000

$145,865

29418

$145,000

$152,549

29420

$166,380

$199,354

29456

$152,500

$154,742

29485

$189,995

$204,035

Source: Charleston Trident Associatin of Realtors, 4/2009.

MSA Apartments, Average Monthly Rent by Sub-Market (Feb 2009)

1-Bedroom Unit

2-Bedroom Unit

3-Bedroom Unit

$625

$686

$808

Source: Real Data Inc., www.aptindex.com. Average monthly rent prices exclude all utilities except water.

North Charleston offers a reasonable cost of living according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. This quarterly survey compares relative living costs for middle-management households among U.S. metropolitan areas and cities. Charleston residents also get a break when it comes to taxes, with the area's state and local tax burden significantly lower than the national average.

MSA Cost of Living Index

All Items (Composite)

96.8

Grocery Items

100.0

Housing

89.4

Utilities

100.0

Transportation

98.0

Health Care

105.4

Miscellaneous Goods and Services

99.7

U.S. Cities Baseline Index = 100

 

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2008 Annual Average.

Tax Burden, 2006

 

South Carolina

United States

State and Local Taxes, Total (Per Capita)

$2,899

$4,020

    Property

$923

$1,208

    Sales & Use

$765

$949

    Individual Income

$635

$903

    Corporate Income

$69

$178

State & Local Taxes per $1,000 of Personal Income

$102.76

$116.22

Source: TaxFoundation.org, 2008