Montgomery vs North Charleston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Montgomery
North Charleston
The Verdict
Montgomery is 22.5% less expensive than North Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $96,835 in North Charleston 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 Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $96,835 in North Charleston.
Conversely, $75,000 in North Charleston equals $58,088 in Montgomery.
Living in Montgomery vs North Charleston
Housing Costs
Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower North Charleston's 102, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $347,000. The $185,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,525/mo in North Charleston, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 101 in North Charleston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $480/month in North Charleston. 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 115 in Montgomery and 120 in North Charleston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $480 in North Charleston. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Montgomery and 86 in North Charleston. 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 $56,800 in Montgomery and $61,400 in North Charleston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $60,196 respectively. Montgomery residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,325/month to housing in Montgomery vs $1,433/month in North Charleston. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In North Charleston, median rent of $1,525/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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