Uprootmap
Washington vs Charleston
Washington 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 Washington to Charleston
In 2022-2023, 606 households filed a move from Washington to Charleston (about 965 people, average adjusted gross income $164,157). 195 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,916 in Washington and $1,588 in Charleston. Washington 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 124% in Washington.
Charleston averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 41°F. Washington is 203 sunny days, 89°F in July, 29°F in January. Commutes average 27 minutes in Charleston and 34 in Washington.
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, 606 households moved Washington → Charleston (about 965 people, average AGI $164,157). 195 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 Washington and Charleston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 511 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,100–$3,950
- Container or pod
- $1,450–$2,700
- Rent a truck
- $650–$1,250
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Dig into Charleston
Questions
Is Charleston cheaper than Washington after tax and rent?
Yes. Charleston leaves about $558 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,916 in Washington 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 Washington 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.