You’re in luck if you’re looking for the cheapest locales to live in South Carolina.
The most affordable places in South Carolina offer more than low prices. They have convenient access to Charleston for a chilling ghost tour or a thrilling Gamecocks football game in Columbia. The low cost of real estate in South Carolina allows easy access to the state’s beaches, mountains, and palmetto trees without breaking your bank account.
We used Saturday Night Science and Census data to look at housing costs relative to incomes for every place in the Palmetto State. Here’s what we found.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in South Carolina
What is the cheapest place to live in South Carolina? The cheapest place to live in South Carolina is Chester based on recent cost of living statistics.
If you are looking for a cheap place in a suburban area outside of Greenville, one of the best cities in South Carolina, Fountain Inn and Mauldin are waiting for you.
Check out some more reading about South Carolina and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina For 2026
/10
Population: 5,218
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $46,138
Median Home Price: $128,679
Median Rent: $902
Located in Chester County south of Charlotte, Chester is the the first least expensive city in the Palmetto State. The city’s cost of living index is 80. The average home price is the fourth lowest in the state at $128,679, according to Zillow.
The money you save on housing in Chester can go towards better ingredients for pimento cheese or BBQ on the weekends.
More on Chester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I live in Chester and its not a bad place, and there are plenty of things to do you just have to look
/10
Population: 22,536
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $41,150
Median Home Price: $183,962
Median Rent: $839
Greenwood, located in northwest South Carolina in Greenwood County, offers a cost-effective lifestyle with a $183,962 average home price and a $839 average rank. It’s ranked as the state’s second most affordable city.
The overall cost of living index of 84 supports cheap index values for utilities, services, and healthcare.
More on Greenwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,079
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $31,914
Median Home Price: $136,356
Median Rent: $832
The county seat of Union County in the northern part of the state, Union ranks as the third cheapest place to live in South Carolina. Union enjoys a median rent of just $832, so anyone can afford to give this spot a try.
Homes in Union have a median price of $136,356, which is the fifth least expensive you can find in South Carolina. The overall cost of living in Union is only slightly lower than the South Carolina average, but in terms of housing, Union is 40% cheaper than the rest of the state.
For fans of American history, the Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site offers a rare glimpse at South Carolina’s history in one of the best-preserved plantation homes from the era. There are also short, well-maintained hiking trails in the area if you’re just looking for a place to get outdoors.
More on Union: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 12,596
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $41,089
Median Home Price: $185,840
Median Rent: $887
Taking home the name of the fourth cheapest city in South Carolina is Gaffney. Located an hour southwest of Charlotte, the city has an overall cost of living index of 86. The cost of living is 6.5% lower than the South Carolina average.
Locally known as home to The Peachoid, Gaffney has plenty of affordable things for the whole family to do.
More on Gaffney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,751
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $37,115
Median Home Price: $81,007
Median Rent: $671
No, not everything is free in the 843, but it is super affordable-like, the fifth cheapest place to live in South Carolina affordable. But, that’s not all that makes this city of 7,751 residents from Marlboro County so great. Bennettsville shines because the median income here is $37,115 and the median home price is only $81,007.
And, folks, it doesn’t hurt that this South Carolina gem is also located on the Great Peed Dee River.
More on Bennettsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,676
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $44,522
Median Home Price: $163,865
Median Rent: $899
Next on our list is another western South Carolina city between Greenville and Columbia — Clinton. Clinton has a manageable 86 overall cost of living index that is 6 points lower than the state average.
Clinton is very close to the Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests for a weekend activity that won’t break the bank.
More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 6,206
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $30,662
Median Home Price: $145,562
Median Rent: $651
If you’re looking to save a buck or two, South Carolina’s seventh cheapest place to live, Marion, will help you do just that.
The city “Where History and Hospitality Greets You” should maybe change its motto to “Somewhere in the Middle” because it is currently the 45th best place to buy a home based on income as well as the 55th most affordable place to rent. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel, you only need to make $30,662/year to keep up with Marion’s cost of living.
More on Marion: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,480
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $56,457
Median Home Price: $210,403
Median Rent: $965
Walterboro, located in the South Carolina Lowcountry, is an excellent option for those looking for an affordable place to live. With a median home value of $210,403 and a median rent of $965, Walterboro offers a cost of living well below the national average.
In addition to being affordable, Walterboro boasts a low unemployment rate of just 6.09%. Walterboro offers convenient access to the annual Rice Festival, Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary, South Carolina Artisans Center, and a variety of other local attractions.
More on Walterboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,988
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $33,600
Median Home Price: $126,633
Median Rent: $702
Coming in as the ninth most affordable place to call home is Lake City, a city of 5,988 about a half-hour south of Florence.
Sure, Lake City has a low cost of living, with things like healthcare, transportation, and services all costing less than your typical American city. But what really stands out in Lake City is the thriving community.
From the public art and horticulture that beautifies every corner of Lake City, to the seemingly endless string of events, to the spectacular dining and shopping downtown, there’s something for everyone in Lake City.
If you just want to give it a try to see how you like it, the median rent here is $702 — about 20% cheaper than the statewide average. If you like Lake City enough to make it your forever home, the median home price is $126,633.
More on Lake City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 9,336
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $49,246
Median Home Price: $180,131
Median Rent: $833
Have you heard? Laurens is South Carolina’s tenth most affordable city and the “Gateway to the Upstate” shows no signs of slowing down.
Laurens moved up four places from last year due to its 14th best place to buy a home based on the city’s median income ranking. The amenities in Laurens are also not too shabby. Yes, if you haven’t spent the day exploring the Laurens Historic District or taken in their Riverfront Freedom Festival then you have some work to do.
More on Laurens: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in South Carolina FAQs
The county in South Carolina with the lowest cost of living is Abbeville County. The average living wage in Abbeville County is $78,818 according to MIT data. Abbeville County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to South Carolina as a whole. Childcare costs $9,273 a year in Abbeville County for two children compared to the South Carolina average of $10,594. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,148 per year in Abbeville County compared to $11,223 on average in South Carolina.
The cost of living in South Carolina is 6.6% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in South Carolina is $83,827 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a South Carolina household is $54,864.
The cheapest housing market in South Carolina is Chester. The average home value in Chester is $67,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in South Carolina is $170,100, almost 2.5 times higher than Chester.
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The county in South Carolina with the lowest cost of living is Abbeville County. The average living wage in Abbeville County is $78,818 according to MIT data. Abbeville County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to South Carolina as a whole. Childcare costs $9,273 a year in Abbeville County for two children compared to the South Carolina average of $10,594. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,148 per year in Abbeville County compared to $11,223 on average in South Carolina.
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The cost of living in South Carolina is 6.6% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in South Carolina is $83,827 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a South Carolina household is $54,864.
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The cheapest housing market in South Carolina is Chester. The average home value in Chester is $67,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in South Carolina is $170,100, almost 2.5 times higher than Chester.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Palmetto State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in South Carolina boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for South Carolina using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in South Carolina to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 64 places in South Carolina that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in South Carolina with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Chester.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in South Carolina.
South Carolina Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in South Carolina for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in South Carolina.
The cheapest cities in South Carolina are Chester, Greenwood, Union, Gaffney, Bennettsville, Clinton, Marion, Walterboro, Lake City, and Laurens.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in South Carolina according to the data:
- Mount Pleasant
- Hilton Head Island
- Tega Cay
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
- Richest Cities In South Carolina
Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chester | 5,218 | 80 | $46,138 | $128,679 | $902 |
| 2 | Greenwood | 22,536 | 84 | $41,150 | $183,962 | $839 |
| 3 | Union | 8,079 | 85 | $31,914 | $136,356 | $832 |
| 4 | Gaffney | 12,596 | 86 | $41,089 | $185,840 | $887 |
| 5 | Bennettsville | 7,751 | 86 | $37,115 | $81,007 | $671 |
| 6 | Clinton | 7,676 | 86 | $44,522 | $163,865 | $899 |
| 7 | Marion | 6,206 | 87 | $30,662 | $145,562 | $651 |
| 8 | Walterboro | 5,480 | 87 | $56,457 | $210,403 | $965 |
| 9 | Lake City | 5,988 | 88 | $33,600 | $126,633 | $702 |
| 10 | Laurens | 9,336 | 89 | $49,246 | $180,131 | $833 |
| 11 | Dillon | 6,354 | 89 | $35,891 | $100,984 | $630 |
| 12 | Newberry | 10,790 | 90 | $51,260 | $166,454 | $831 |
| 13 | York | 8,969 | 90 | $56,176 | $356,168 | $896 |
| 14 | Darlington | 6,120 | 90 | $33,952 | $153,322 | $840 |
| 15 | Spartanburg | 38,910 | 91 | $51,964 | $233,686 | $1,099 |
| 16 | Orangeburg | 13,253 | 91 | $38,635 | $162,436 | $848 |
| 17 | Anderson | 30,051 | 92 | $46,933 | $272,108 | $975 |
| 18 | Hartsville | 7,419 | 92 | $49,272 | $179,198 | $874 |
| 19 | Central | 5,320 | 92 | $60,258 | $284,220 | $876 |
| 20 | Sumter | 43,053 | 93 | $55,592 | $213,462 | $1,076 |
| 21 | Fountain Inn | 12,020 | 93 | $73,585 | $305,625 | $1,184 |
| 22 | Seneca | 8,993 | 93 | $52,022 | $304,236 | $807 |
| 23 | Georgetown | 8,565 | 93 | $56,981 | $250,504 | $780 |
| 24 | Conway | 27,263 | 94 | $56,650 | $286,177 | $866 |
| 25 | Cayce | 13,741 | 94 | $62,045 | $210,164 | $1,360 |
| 26 | West Columbia | 17,963 | 95 | $56,912 | $226,049 | $1,201 |
| 27 | Lancaster | 8,921 | 95 | $46,311 | $291,062 | $868 |
| 28 | Lyman | 6,547 | 95 | $75,653 | $303,650 | $1,081 |
| 29 | Easley | 24,841 | 96 | $66,299 | $315,979 | $947 |
| 30 | Camden | 8,267 | 96 | $63,576 | $237,602 | $956 |
| 31 | Florence | 40,408 | 97 | $56,143 | $219,285 | $992 |
| 32 | Clover | 7,234 | 97 | $85,450 | $413,527 | $841 |
| 33 | Mauldin | 27,055 | 98 | $82,331 | $297,318 | $1,490 |
| 34 | North Augusta | 25,653 | 98 | $86,092 | $265,723 | $1,169 |
| 35 | Irmo | 11,813 | 98 | $80,489 | $281,254 | $1,477 |
| 36 | Rock Hill | 75,259 | 99 | $68,771 | $326,184 | $1,341 |
| 37 | Columbia | 139,643 | 100 | $55,529 | $229,067 | $1,204 |
| 38 | Greer | 41,536 | 100 | $82,626 | $348,460 | $1,198 |
| 39 | Aiken | 32,521 | 100 | $76,746 | $272,072 | $1,180 |
| 40 | Forest Acres | 10,530 | 100 | $78,306 | $335,524 | $1,263 |
| 41 | North Charleston | 119,913 | 101 | $62,956 | $309,521 | $1,430 |
| 42 | Moncks Corner | 15,485 | 101 | $91,500 | $360,390 | $1,307 |
| 43 | Lexington | 24,585 | 102 | $87,126 | $303,204 | $1,545 |
| 44 | Travelers Rest | 8,370 | 102 | $54,583 | $353,915 | $1,033 |
| 45 | Summerville | 51,654 | 103 | $81,046 | $376,903 | $1,526 |
| 46 | Goose Creek | 48,078 | 104 | $88,178 | $318,055 | $1,690 |
| 47 | Simpsonville | 26,144 | 104 | $82,457 | $377,969 | $1,415 |
| 48 | Beaufort | 13,747 | 105 | $61,220 | $412,455 | $1,212 |
| 49 | Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | 106 | $60,394 | $320,925 | $1,261 |
| 50 | Hollywood | 5,382 | 107 | $73,693 | $519,342 | $1,625 |
| 51 | Hanahan | 21,452 | 108 | $87,984 | $404,451 | $1,412 |
| 52 | Port Royal | 15,579 | 111 | $74,870 | $355,156 | $1,726 |
| 53 | Clemson | 18,072 | 112 | $49,520 | $396,340 | $1,007 |
| 54 | North Myrtle Beach | 19,855 | 113 | $72,722 | $390,621 | $1,263 |
| 55 | Blythewood | 5,731 | 114 | $94,167 | $340,026 | $1,107 |
| 56 | Fort Mill | 30,775 | 116 | $121,823 | $527,208 | $1,503 |
| 57 | Greenville | 72,935 | 118 | $71,472 | $327,592 | $1,312 |
| 58 | Bluffton | 33,157 | 120 | $111,281 | $498,492 | $2,256 |
| 59 | Charleston | 154,338 | 121 | $92,414 | $589,607 | $1,722 |
| 60 | Hardeeville | 10,871 | 125 | $78,365 | $426,444 | $1,406 |
| 61 | James Island | 12,198 | 127 | $104,217 | $597,130 | $1,695 |
| 62 | Tega Cay | 13,615 | 131 | $142,000 | $611,048 | $1,408 |
| 63 | Hilton Head Island | 37,911 | 137 | $94,657 | $787,678 | $1,479 |
| 64 | Mount Pleasant | 93,993 | 142 | $124,755 | $875,092 | $2,159 |