Charleston, SC vs Orlando, FL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Orlando, FL and Charleston, SC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Charleston works out to about $75,300 in Orlando, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.0% higher in Orlando, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.6% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,929 a month in Orlando and $2,037 in Charleston, $1,296 a year less in Orlando (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $383,000 in Orlando and $437,000 in Charleston.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Charleston and Orlando
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
All items Charleston, SC: 101.0 Orlando, FL: 101.4
Goods Charleston, SC: 96.3 Orlando, FL: 96.2
Housing (rents) Charleston, SC: 119.8 Orlando, FL: 123.4
Utilities Charleston, SC: 88.2 Orlando, FL: 87.2
Other services Charleston, SC: 98.3 Orlando, FL: 98.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 101.4 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 119.8 | 123.4 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 87.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.9 |
| Category | Charleston | Orlando | Orlando vs Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 101.4 | +0.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 119.8 | 123.4 | +3.0% |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 87.2 | −1.2% |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.9 | +0.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,037 | $1,929 | −5.3% |
| Typical home value | $437,000 | $383,000 | −12.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Charleston | $75,000 | $75,300 | +0.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Charleston and Orlando has narrowed since 2008: 3.9 points then, 0.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 97.3 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 99.9 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 100.1 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 99.7 | 100.8 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.8 |
| 2019 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2020 | 98.0 | 98.5 |
| 2021 | 99.2 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 99.1 | 100.5 |
| 2023 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2024 | 101.0 | 101.4 |
Goods
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 96.4 | 97.0 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.0 | 97.4 |
| 2018 | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.3 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 94.5 | 95.0 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 116.4 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 111.1 |
| 2010 | 96.3 | 106.9 |
| 2011 | 102.4 | 106.8 |
| 2012 | 107.2 | 104.6 |
| 2013 | 104.2 | 107.0 |
| 2014 | 104.3 | 106.4 |
| 2015 | 106.7 | 104.9 |
| 2016 | 99.6 | 106.6 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 108.9 |
| 2018 | 107.6 | 108.7 |
| 2019 | 111.9 | 113.4 |
| 2020 | 112.5 | 115.2 |
| 2021 | 106.1 | 112.5 |
| 2022 | 110.9 | 118.5 |
| 2023 | 123.4 | 121.2 |
| 2024 | 119.8 | 123.4 |
Utilities
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.8 | 96.0 |
| 2009 | 88.0 | 98.7 |
| 2010 | 90.4 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 91.7 | 94.3 |
| 2012 | 93.9 | 92.1 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 90.3 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 93.9 |
| 2015 | 96.3 | 91.0 |
| 2016 | 94.7 | 86.3 |
| 2017 | 91.1 | 85.1 |
| 2018 | 91.9 | 87.5 |
| 2019 | 94.7 | 88.8 |
| 2020 | 92.3 | 85.4 |
| 2021 | 89.7 | 85.5 |
| 2022 | 88.7 | 90.4 |
| 2023 | 85.3 | 91.3 |
| 2024 | 88.2 | 87.2 |
Other services
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 99.2 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 98.0 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 101.1 | 100.9 |
| 2012 | 101.0 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 100.5 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 100.8 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 102.2 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 98.8 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 96.0 |
| 2021 | 99.9 | 99.7 |
| 2022 | 99.4 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 99.8 |
| 2024 | 98.3 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,929 in Orlando vs $2,037 in Charleston
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,087 | $1,097 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,098 | $1,120 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,115 | $1,134 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,120 | $1,141 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,138 | $1,152 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,166 | $1,177 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,172 | $1,189 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,166 | $1,188 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,195 | $1,208 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,221 | $1,243 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,225 | $1,251 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,227 | $1,263 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,247 | $1,289 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,260 | $1,313 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,267 | $1,332 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,270 | $1,335 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,292 | $1,353 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,311 | $1,381 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,316 | $1,389 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,320 | $1,390 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,338 | $1,402 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,326 | $1,402 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,352 | $1,414 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,353 | $1,418 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,405 | $1,457 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,472 | $1,545 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,564 | $1,666 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,590 | $1,728 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,624 | $1,779 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,726 | $1,863 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,779 | $1,889 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,769 | $1,866 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,800 | $1,887 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,854 | $1,906 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,874 | $1,895 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,859 | $1,870 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,883 | $1,888 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,916 | $1,916 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,932 | $1,912 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,908 | $1,886 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,926 | $1,912 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,962 | $1,926 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,951 | $1,914 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,946 | $1,893 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,984 | $1,910 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,025 | $1,936 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,037 | $1,929 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $383,000 in Orlando vs $437,000 in Charleston
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Charleston, SC
- Orlando, FL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Charleston, SC | Orlando, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $216K | $182K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $221K | $185K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $226K | $189K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $232K | $194K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $236K | $198K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $238K | $202K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $241K | $206K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $245K | $210K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $248K | $214K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $253K | $219K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $257K | $224K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $261K | $229K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $265K | $234K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $267K | $239K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $270K | $243K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $272K | $247K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $274K | $252K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $276K | $255K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $278K | $257K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $280K | $261K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $284K | $266K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $286K | $268K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $291K | $273K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $302K | $281K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $314K | $291K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $331K | $305K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $346K | $319K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $359K | $334K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $380K | $360K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $405K | $388K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $411K | $397K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $409K | $395K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $408K | $392K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $414K | $395K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $423K | $400K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $430K | $404K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $435K | $407K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $441K | $408K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $441K | $407K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $441K | $405K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $443K | $402K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $441K | $395K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $438K | $389K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $438K | $387K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $439K | $387K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $437K | $384K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $437K | $383K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Charleston, SC
- Cost of living in Orlando, FL
- Reverse: moving from Orlando to Charleston
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.