City Comparison

North Charleston vs Yuma

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

North Charleston

South Carolina
102
Average
$347,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$61,400
Median Income

Yuma

Arizona
92
Below Average
$284,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$54,100
Median Income

The Verdict

10.9%

Living in Yuma costs 10.9% less than North Charleston. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in North Charleston, you would need $67,647 in Yuma.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
102
North Charleston
82
Yuma
Groceries
101
North Charleston
101
Yuma
Utilities
120
North Charleston
102
Yuma
Transportation
91
North Charleston
97
Yuma
Healthcare
86
North Charleston
87
Yuma

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in North Charleston has the same purchasing power as $67,647 in Yuma.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $83,152 in North Charleston.

Living in North Charleston vs Yuma

Housing Costs

North Charleston's housing index of 102 is higher Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $347,000 vs $284,000. The $63,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,092 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,525/mo in North Charleston compared to $1,100/mo in Yuma, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in North Charleston and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in North Charleston vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 120 in North Charleston and 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $480 in North Charleston vs $408 in Yuma. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 86 in North Charleston and 87 in Yuma. 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 $61,400 in North Charleston and $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,196 and $58,804 respectively. North Charleston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,433/month to housing in North Charleston vs $1,262/month in Yuma. In North Charleston, median rent of $1,525/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yuma is 10.9% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 102.
A $75,000 salary in North Charleston has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,647 in Yuma, based on the cost of living difference.
North Charleston's housing index is 102 with median homes at $347,000, while Yuma's is 82 with median homes at $284,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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