Charleston vs Kissimmee
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Kissimmee
The Verdict
Charleston is 15.8% less expensive than Kissimmee overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charleston would need approximately $89,118 in Kissimmee to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $89,118 in Kissimmee.
Conversely, $75,000 in Kissimmee equals $63,119 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Kissimmee
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 62 is lower Kissimmee's 111, translating to median home prices of $135,000 vs $365,000. The $230,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,952 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Charleston compared to $1,425/mo in Kissimmee, a monthly difference of $575.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Charleston and 100 in Kissimmee. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Charleston vs $475/month in Kissimmee. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Charleston and 88 in Kissimmee. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Charleston vs $352 in Kissimmee. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Charleston and 90 in Kissimmee. 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 $42,034 in Charleston and $51,300 in Kissimmee. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,452 and $50,792 respectively. Kissimmee residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $981/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,197/month in Kissimmee. In Charleston, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Kissimmee, median rent of $1,425/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 49 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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