Cost of Living in South Carolina for a Family of Four (2026)
A family of four in South Carolina needs about $7,159 a month ($85,908 a year) to cover a typical household budget before saving. That is 8% below the U.S. average of $7,777 and ranks #32 of 51, where #1 is the most expensive.
Rent is the main reason it costs less. South Carolina's rent level is 80% of the national average, so a typical three-bedroom rental with utilities runs about $1,634 a month, compared with $2,030 nationally. Everyday goods such as groceries and clothing cost 4% less than the national average, which puts this family's grocery bill at about $1,004 a month on the USDA low-cost food plan.
To cover this budget and still save 15% of take-home pay, a family would need about $8,422 a month after taxes ($101,068 a year).
Monthly budget in South Carolina by household
The family is two parents aged 38 and 40 with children aged 9 and 4, the youngest in paid childcare, renting a three-bedroom home. The couple is two adults aged 35 and the single adult is 30, each renting a one-bedroom home.
| Category | Family of four | Couple | Single adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | $1,634 | $1,068 | $1,068 |
| Groceries | $1,004 | $628 | $343 |
| Dining out & takeout | $251 | $157 | $86 |
| Transportation | $1,184 | $1,184 | $592 |
| Health care | $688 | $452 | $226 |
| Childcare | $1,030 | $0 | $0 |
| Phone & internet | $155 | $155 | $115 |
| Clothing | $210 | $148 | $105 |
| Household & personal care | $243 | $172 | $122 |
| Entertainment & hobbies | $393 | $278 | $196 |
| Gifts, giving & other | $367 | $260 | $184 |
| Total per month | $7,159 | $4,502 | $3,036 |
| Total per year | $85,908 | $54,025 | $36,432 |
Estimates for 2026 from LifeCalculator's family budget model: BEA Regional Price Parities by state (2024, released February 2026), USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (August 2026, low-cost plan), BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024), Census median gross rent (2024) and Child Care Aware of America (2025). Figures from 2024 are adjusted by about 5% for price changes since. Savings and income taxes are not included.
What moves the number
- Childcare. Paid care for the 4-year-old adds about $1,030 a month. Without it, the family budget falls to about $6,129.
- Housing. The figure assumes renting at the state's typical level. Rents in big cities run well above the state average, and rural areas well below it.
- Cars. Transportation assumes typical costs for two drivers, including a car payment. Families with paid-off cars spend less.
- Price level. Overall, prices in South Carolina are 6% below the national average (BEA all-items index 93.7).
States with similar costs
- Michigan: $7,252 a month (#29)
- Montana: $7,251 a month (#30)
- North Carolina: $7,193 a month (#31)
- Wisconsin: $7,093 a month (#33)
- Tennessee: $7,065 a month (#34)
- Indiana: $7,004 a month (#35)
See all 50 states and D.C. on the cost of living by state page, or read what it costs a family of four to live in every state.
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