| Index | Orangeburg | South Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 89 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 64 | 81 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Orangeburg allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Orangeburg stands at 89, marking it 11% lower than the national average.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Orangeburg. The results indicated that 38% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 63% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Orangeburg affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Orangeburg, the median home price is 39.4% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 27.4% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Orangeburg boasting a median household income of $42,544, 47.7% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Orangeburg, healthcare costs are 1.5% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Orangeburg, the groceries index is 0.2% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Orangeburg, the utilities index registers at 3.9% higher than the national average.
The Orangeburg cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $72,139 | $6,012 | $1,683 | $2,164 |
| Renters | $22,918 | $1,910 | $535 | $688 |
| 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. |
| Neeses, SC | 366 | 77 | 22.7% |
| Livingston, SC | 155 | 82 | 18.4% |
| Edisto, SC | 2,045 | 82 | 18.0% |
| Bowman, SC | 637 | 82 | 17.8% |
| Norway, SC | 401 | 83 | 16.7% |
| Orangeburg, SC | 13,075 | 89 | 11.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Richmond, TX | 13,080 | 99 | 0.8% |
| Smithfield, NC | 13,082 | 92 | 8.1% |
| Commerce, CA | 13,066 | 139 | 38.8% |
| East Islip, NY | 13,085 | 146 | 46.2% |
| Woodland Park, NJ | 13,086 | 137 | 37.3% |
| Orangeburg, SC | 13,075 | 89 | 11.2% |
Here are the best places to live in South Carolina
Most Dangerous States In The US
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in South Carolina
Most Dangerous Cities In The US