City Comparison

Charleston vs Everett

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Charleston

South Carolina
110
Above Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$65,872
Median Income

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

The Verdict

19.1%

Living in Charleston costs 19.1% less than Everett. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $92,727 in Everett.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
127
Charleston
192
Everett
Groceries
102
Charleston
109
Everett
Utilities
99
Charleston
92
Everett
Transportation
98
Charleston
117
Everett
Healthcare
104
Charleston
122
Everett

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Charleston has the same purchasing power as $92,727 in Everett.

Conversely, $75,000 in Everett equals $60,662 in Charleston.

Living in Charleston vs Everett

Housing Costs

Charleston's housing index of 127 is lower Everett's 192, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $575,000. The $195,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,672 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Charleston compared to $1,800/mo in Everett, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Charleston and 109 in Everett. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Charleston vs $518/month in Everett. Charleston offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Charleston and 92 in Everett. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Charleston vs $368 in Everett. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Charleston and 122 in Everett. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,872 in Charleston and $75,400 in Everett. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,884 and $55,441 respectively. Charleston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,537/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,759/month in Everett. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 65 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston is 19.1% more affordable overall with an index of 110 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,727 in Everett, based on the cost of living difference.
Charleston's housing index is 127 with median homes at $380,000, while Everett's is 192 with median homes at $575,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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