Beaufort, SC

Living costs in Beaufort land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 107 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $408,273, and typical monthly rents run around $1,061. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,061, while local median household income is $59,454. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

South Carolina has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 6.4%. The effective property tax rate is 0.57%. On a home worth $408,273, that translates to roughly $2,327 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.44% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Beaufort is around $1,061. That's roughly 21% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $408,273, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Beaufort is valued at $408,273. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,064/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 59% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Beaufort are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

Beaufort is a small town with a population of about 13,660. The median age of residents is 31.5, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 18%, above the national average of 12.4%.