Uprootmap
Hilton Head Island vs Charleston
Hilton Head Island and Charleston
Photo: Animum / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
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 Hilton Head Island to Charleston
In 2022-2023, 370 households filed a move from Hilton Head Island to Charleston (about 589 people, average adjusted gross income $86,189). 309 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,483 in Hilton Head Island and $1,588 in Charleston. Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island.
Charleston averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 41°F. Hilton Head Island is 225 sunny days, 91°F in July, 43°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Charleston and 24 in Hilton Head Island.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 370 households moved Hilton Head Island → Charleston (about 589 people, average AGI $86,189). 309 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 Hilton Head Island and Charleston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 78 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Charleston
Questions
Is Charleston cheaper than Hilton Head Island after tax and rent?
No. Charleston leaves about $84 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,483 in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island 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.