| Index | Mount Pleasant | South Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 140 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 238 | 81 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 93 | 98 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Mount Pleasant is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Mount Pleasant is 140, which is 40% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Mount Pleasant may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Mount Pleasant falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Mount Pleasant cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 138% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Mount Pleasant an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Mount Pleasant, the median home price is 164.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 76.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Mount Pleasant come in at $153,267, which is 88.4% higher than the national average.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Mount Pleasant, the housing index stands at 138% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Mount Pleasant, the groceries index registers 3.3% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Mount Pleasant, the utilities index is 1.4% higher than the national average.
The Mount Pleasant cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $189,422 | $15,785 | $4,420 | $5,683 |
| Renters | $92,604 | $7,717 | $2,161 | $2,778 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| South Carolina | 6% | 9% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| South Carolina | 0% | 6.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| North Charleston, SC | 117,218 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Awendaw, SC | 1,800 | 104 | 4.2% |
| Goose Creek, SC | 44,214 | 106 | 6.4% |
| Hanahan, SC | 26,450 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Charleston, SC | 142,427 | 123 | 22.8% |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 91,527 | 140 | 40.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Chino, CA | 91,540 | 154 | 54.2% |
| Norwalk, CT | 91,485 | 142 | 42.4% |
| Maple Ridge, BC | 91,475 | n/a | |
| Nashua, NH | 91,471 | 116 | 16.5% |
| Fall River, MA | 91,437 | 119 | 19.1% |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 91,527 | 140 | 40.4% |
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