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Cheapest places to live in South Carolina

Columbia has the lowest median listed home of the 5 South Carolina cities we cover, at $299,763 (September 2026).

By Sol Lakein. Updated October 2026.

The 3 cheapest in South Carolina

Ranked by median listed home. Tap a city for weather, flights and monthly costs.
  1. Bridge over the river at Riverfront Park in Columbia, Columbia
    1
    Columbia$299,763 median home
    Mortgage
    $1,647/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,314
    Prices
    6% cheaper
    See Columbia
  2. Aerial view of downtown Spartanburg, Spartanburg
    2
    Spartanburg$304,950 median home
    Mortgage
    $1,676/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,148
    Prices
    9% cheaper
    See Spartanburg
  3. Drone view of Myrtle Beach with the pier and the SkyWheel, Myrtle Beach
    3
    Myrtle Beach$315,000 median home
    Mortgage
    $1,731/mo
    2-bed rent
    $1,383
    Prices
    6% cheaper
    See Myrtle Beach

Ranks 4 to 5

  1. 4Greenville$382,450 · $2,102/mo mortgage
    2-bed rent
    $1,279
    Prices
    7% cheaper
    Incentive
    None
  2. 5Charleston$479,450 · $2,635/mo mortgage
    2-bed rent
    $1,817
    Prices
    1% pricier
    Incentive
    None

Monthly payment vs New York

Principal and interest on the median listed home.
Columbia$1,647/mo
Charleston, priciest we cover$2,635/mo
New York metro$4,078/mo

Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.

Ranked by home price

All 5 cities in one table.
See all 5 South Carolina cities, cheapest first
RankCityMedian listed homeMonthly payment2-bed rentPrice levelIncentive
1Columbia$299,763$1,647$1,31493.7None
2Spartanburg$304,950$1,676$1,14891.1None
3Myrtle Beach$315,000$1,731$1,38393.6None
4Greenville$382,450$2,102$1,27993.3None
5Charleston$479,450$2,635$1,817101.0None

More on South Carolina

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest city to live in South Carolina?

Of the cities we cover, Columbia. Its median listed home is $299,763 (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026).

Is South Carolina cheap to live in?

South Carolina's overall price level is 93.7, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). That is below average.

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Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED. Price level: BEA regional price parities, 2024 (US = 100). 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025. Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
  2. 2Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Prices vs US average: BEA regional price parities, 2024. 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025.
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