Charleston vs Hampton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Hampton
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 25.0%, with Hampton being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to $60,000 in Hampton.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Charleston has the same purchasing power as $60,000 in Hampton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hampton equals $93,750 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Hampton
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 127 is higher Hampton's 102, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $243,000. The $137,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,904 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Charleston compared to $1,175/mo in Hampton, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Charleston and 94 in Hampton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Charleston vs $447/month in Hampton. Hampton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Charleston and 102 in Hampton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Charleston vs $408 in Hampton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Charleston and 106 in Hampton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,872 in Charleston and $59,400 in Hampton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,884 and $67,500 respectively. Hampton residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,537/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,386/month in Hampton. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hampton, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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