Example household · Augusta, GA · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Charleston skyline

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Augusta vs Charleston

Augusta and Charleston

Photo: Animum / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Charleston are above the US rate in this release, 10.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Augusta to Charleston

In 2022-2023, 194 households filed a move from Augusta to Charleston (about 318 people, average adjusted gross income $80,835). 156 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,134 in Augusta and $1,588 in Charleston. Augusta has a state tax on wages. Charleston has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Charleston is 99% of the national level for the same work, against 87% in Augusta.

Charleston averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 41°F. Augusta is 218 sunny days, 90°F in July, 38°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Charleston and 24 in Augusta.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 194 households moved Augusta → Charleston (about 318 people, average AGI $80,835). 156 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Augusta and Charleston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 142 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,700–$3,150
Container or pod
$1,150–$2,100
Rent a truck
$400–$800

Movers in Charleston and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Charleston cheaper than Augusta after tax and rent?

No. Charleston leaves about $400 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,134 in Augusta and $1,588 in Charleston.

Does Charleston have state income tax?

Charleston is in South Carolina, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Augusta to Charleston?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.