
Charleston vs Hilton Head Island
$528/mo less in Hilton Head Island
CharlestonHilton Head IslandAbout 65 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Hilton Head Island costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 225 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $1,759/mo in Hilton Head Island. $2,287/mo in Charleston. −$6,336 a year.
Charleston
$2,287
left each month
Hilton Head Island
$1,759
−$528 vs Charleston
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
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In 2022-2023, 309 households moved Charleston → Hilton Head Island (avg AGI $115,265). 370 went the other way. The whole move →
−$528 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Charleston | Hilton Head Island | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,750 | $6,796 | −$954 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,948 | $1,606 | −$342 |
| Take-home pay | $5,802 | $5,190 | −$612 |
| Rent | $1,588 | $1,483 | −$105 |
| Getting around | $535 | $556 | +$21 |
| Groceries | $384 | $384 | $0 |
| Healthcare | $432 | $432 | $0 |
| Utilities | $240 | $240 | $0 |
| Everything else | $336 | $336 | $0 |
| Left over | $2,287 | $1,759 | −$528 |
Salary to match Charleston
$91,500
Gross pay in Hilton Head Island that leaves the same amount as $93,000 in Charleston.
Tax difference
+$710
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.1% in Charleston, 23.6% in Hilton Head Island.
More about Hilton Head Island
Charleston, SC in full
State income tax topping out at 6.2%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,890 and 222 sunny days; commutes average 27 minutes.
Hilton Head Island, SC in full
State income tax topping out at 6.2%, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,766 and 225 sunny days; commutes average 24 minutes.
The other way
Start in Hilton Head Island.
Hilton Head Island → Charleston →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Hilton Head Island than Charleston?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Hilton Head Island leaves about $528 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,588 in Charleston and $1,483 in Hilton Head Island.
Does Hilton Head Island have state income tax?
Hilton Head Island is in South Carolina, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Charleston to Hilton Head Island?
The paycheck is taxed in South Carolina. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Charleston and Hilton Head Island changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.