Richmond, VA vs Hilton Head Island, SC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Hilton Head Island, SC and Richmond, VA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Richmond works out to about $75,100 in Hilton Head Island, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.1% higher in Hilton Head Island, goods 0.4% lower and other services 0.3% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,971 a month in Hilton Head Island and $1,706 in Richmond, $3,180 a year more in Hilton Head Island (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $522,000 in Hilton Head Island and $392,000 in Richmond.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Hilton Head Island was 2.7% more expensive than Richmond.
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 Richmond and Hilton Head Island
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
All items Richmond, VA: 97.9 Hilton Head Island, SC: 98.0
Goods Richmond, VA: 96.8 Hilton Head Island, SC: 96.3
Housing (rents) Richmond, VA: 99.1 Hilton Head Island, SC: 101.2
Utilities Richmond, VA: 89.2 Hilton Head Island, SC: 88.1
Other services Richmond, VA: 98.6 Hilton Head Island, SC: 98.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.9 | 98.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 99.1 | 101.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.1 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.3 |
| Category | Richmond | Hilton Head Island | Hilton Head Island vs Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.9 | 98.0 | +0.2% |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.3 | −0.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 99.1 | 101.2 | +2.1% |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.1 | −1.3% |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.3 | −0.3% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,706 | $1,971 | +15.5% |
| Typical home value | $392,000 | $522,000 | +33.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Richmond | $75,000 | $75,100 | +0.2% |
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 Richmond and Hilton Head Island has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 97.5 | 92.6 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| 2012 | 98.6 | 93.6 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 98.9 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 99.3 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 97.8 | 92.0 |
| 2018 | 97.1 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 95.2 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 93.6 |
| 2021 | 98.0 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 99.3 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 96.0 |
| 2024 | 97.9 | 98.0 |
Goods
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.5 | 94.6 |
| 2009 | 95.6 | 91.1 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 96.7 | 94.0 |
| 2012 | 96.8 | 91.0 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 92.9 |
| 2014 | 96.8 | 91.7 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 91.2 |
| 2016 | 96.7 | 92.4 |
| 2017 | 96.5 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.1 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.5 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 97.1 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 96.8 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 99.5 |
| 2009 | 103.2 | 99.7 |
| 2010 | 101.4 | 102.7 |
| 2011 | 103.5 | 88.1 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 90.8 |
| 2013 | 99.4 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 93.4 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 95.7 |
| 2016 | 98.8 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 86.2 |
| 2018 | 99.4 | 93.0 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 107.4 |
| 2020 | 100.8 | 88.3 |
| 2021 | 99.5 | 104.5 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 109.5 |
| 2023 | 101.0 | 93.2 |
| 2024 | 99.1 | 101.2 |
Utilities
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.4 | 77.9 |
| 2009 | 90.5 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 91.6 | 82.5 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 86.1 |
| 2012 | 91.6 | 93.7 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | 90.8 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 91.3 | 99.6 |
| 2016 | 89.0 | 99.7 |
| 2017 | 86.0 | 99.7 |
| 2018 | 89.4 | 92.1 |
| 2019 | 92.1 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 90.5 | 92.6 |
| 2021 | 87.1 | 89.8 |
| 2022 | 89.3 | 89.1 |
| 2023 | 88.8 | 85.5 |
| 2024 | 89.2 | 88.1 |
Other services
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 95.0 |
| 2009 | 97.4 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 94.0 |
| 2011 | 100.6 | 95.0 |
| 2012 | 100.1 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 100.7 | 98.1 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 94.4 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.1 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 99.6 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 98.9 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.6 | 98.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,971 in Hilton Head Island vs $1,706 in Richmond
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $974 | $1,031 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $983 | $1,063 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $995 | $1,068 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $989 | $1,075 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $998 | $1,066 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,018 | $1,116 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,018 | $1,122 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,016 | $1,122 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,034 | $1,151 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,060 | $1,172 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,066 | $1,170 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,066 | $1,195 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,088 | $1,220 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,114 | $1,234 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,106 | $1,227 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,114 | $1,234 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,138 | $1,262 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,161 | $1,290 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,157 | $1,294 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,158 | $1,277 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,179 | $1,289 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,198 | $1,313 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,214 | $1,350 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,221 | $1,375 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,251 | $1,393 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,314 | $1,475 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,357 | $1,601 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,383 | $1,683 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,417 | $1,768 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,478 | $1,822 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,508 | $1,881 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,487 | $1,837 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,501 | $1,886 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,526 | $1,929 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,533 | $1,937 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,522 | $1,906 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,557 | $1,941 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,596 | $1,976 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,609 | $1,961 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,609 | $1,950 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,628 | $1,941 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,656 | $1,986 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,665 | $1,960 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,656 | $1,949 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,686 | $1,977 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,711 | $2,001 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,706 | $1,971 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $522,000 in Hilton Head Island vs $392,000 in Richmond
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Richmond, VA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- 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
| Richmond, VA | Hilton Head Island, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $201K | $262K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $203K | $267K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $206K | $271K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $209K | $277K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $212K | $281K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $214K | $284K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $217K | $285K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $220K | $287K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $224K | $288K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $226K | $291K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $229K | $292K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $232K | $295K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $235K | $297K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $238K | $300K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $241K | $302K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $243K | $303K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $247K | $307K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $250K | $310K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $252K | $312K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $256K | $315K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $260K | $318K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $262K | $318K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $268K | $325K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $279K | $336K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $291K | $349K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $303K | $372K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $309K | $393K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $313K | $416K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $327K | $443K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $341K | $472K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $347K | $482K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $348K | $484K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $349K | $487K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $357K | $496K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $362K | $506K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $364K | $513K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $368K | $517K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $375K | $522K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $377K | $524K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $380K | $524K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $381K | $524K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $381K | $522K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $382K | $518K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $386K | $519K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $389K | $520K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $390K | $521K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $392K | $522K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Richmond, VA
- Cost of living in Hilton Head Island, SC
- Reverse: moving from Hilton Head Island to Richmond
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.