Best places to live in South Carolina

The top 3 in South Carolina

1. 

   1

   Columbia

   Score 88 of 100

   Median home

   $299,763

   Per month

   $1,647

   Prices

   6% cheaper

   • Prices 6% below the US average
   • Homes list 29% below the US median
   • Mild winters

   Trade-offHot summers. July highs average 92.7°F.

   Cost of living in Columbia

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 6% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 93.7 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 29% below the US median. $299,763 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 34.6°F with 1.2 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Hot summers. July highs average 92.7°F. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)

   Price level 93.7 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. 

   2

   Spartanburg

   Score 77 of 100

   Median home

   $304,950

   Per month

   $1,676

   Prices

   9% cheaper

   • Prices 9% below the US average
   • Homes list 27% below the US median
   • Mild winters

   Trade-offHot summers. July highs average 90.1°F.

   Cost of living in Spartanburg

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 9% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 91.1 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 27% below the US median. $304,950 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 31.5°F with 0.8 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Hot summers. July highs average 90.1°F. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)

   Price level 91.1 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

3. 

   3

   Myrtle Beach

   Score 58 of 100

   Median home

   $315,000

   Per month

   $1,731

   Prices

   6% cheaper

   • Prices 6% below the US average
   • Homes list 25% below the US median
   • Nonstop flights to New York

   Cost of living in Myrtle Beach

   The numbers behind it↓

   • Prices 6% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 93.6 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 25% below the US median. $315,000 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From MYR to LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, accessed November 3, 2026)

   Price level 93.6 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

Ranks 4 to 5

1. 

   4

   Greenville

   Score 55 of 100

   Median home

   $382,450

   Per month

   $2,102

   Prices

   7% cheaper

   Trade-offHot summers. July highs average 90.3°F.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Prices 7% below the US average
   • Homes list 9% below the US median
   • Mild winters

   • Prices 7% below the US average. Everyday prices, rent included, index at 93.3 against a US average of 100. (BEA regional price parities, 2024)
   • Homes list 9% below the US median. $382,450 median listing against $419,250 nationally. (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026)
   • Mild winters. January lows average 32.1°F with 3.9 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)

   Cost of living in GreenvilleGreenville vs Charleston

   Price level 93.3 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

2. 

   5

   Charleston

   Score 40 of 100

   Median home

   $479,450

   Per month

   $2,635

   Prices

   1% pricier

   Trade-offHomes list 14% above the US median. $479,450 median listing against $419,250 nationally.

   Why it ranks here ↓

   • Mild winters
   • Nonstop flights to New York
   • People are moving in

   • Mild winters. January lows average 38.9°F with 0.3 inches of snow a year. (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
   • Nonstop flights to New York. From CHS to JFK, LGA, EWR. (Airport route page, February 18, 2026)
   • People are moving in. 9,911 more people moved here from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025. (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025)

   Cost of living in CharlestonCharleston vs SavannahCharleston vs Greenville

   Price level 101.0 (US average = 100).

   Home price: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Price level: BEA, 2024.

How we ranked them

1. Lower home prices40%Lowest median listing in the state gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
2. More space for the money (price per square foot)20%Lowest price per square foot gets full points, the highest gets none. Source: Realtor.com via FRED.
3. Milder winters (January low)20%Warmest January low gets full points, the coldest gets none. Source: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
4. Nonstop flights to New York10%Full points for a year-round nonstop to New York. Seasonal, none or no figure scores zero. Source: Airport route pages.
5. More people moving in than leaving10%Full points if more people moved in from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025. Source: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.

Points on each measure run from none to full, then the weights above add up to a score out of 100. A city with no figure for home price, price per square foot or January low gets half points on that measure. No flight or migration figure scores zero.

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