Hilton Head Island, SC

Yes — Hilton Head Island is about 55% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 155. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $779,610, and monthly rents average roughly $1,518. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,518, while local median household income is $96,715. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% 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 $779,610, that translates to roughly $4,444 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.44% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Hilton Head Island is around $1,518. That's about 13% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $779,610, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Hilton Head Island is valued at $779,610. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $3,942/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 79% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Hilton Head Island 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.

Hilton Head Island is a smaller city with a population of about 37,805. The median age of residents is 59.9, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 8.41%, near the national average of 12.4%.