Cost of Living in St. Andrews, SC
Cost of Living in St. Andrews, SC has an overall index of 76, 24% below the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $146,700; typical monthly rent is $1,060; and median household income is $45,321.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 state nonmetro price parities. Home value: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Rent and home prices are comparatively balanced with local income. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about St. Andrews
Living in St. Andrews
Is St. Andrews, SC an affordable place to live?+
Yes — everyday expenses in St. Andrews run about 24% below the US average (Cost Index: 76). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $146,700, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is $1,060, versus $1,348 nationally.
How does St. Andrews fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,060, while local median household income is $45,321. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 28% before utilities and other costs. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in St. Andrews, SC?+
South Carolina uses an approximate state-income-tax planning model; 6.4% is top marginal-rate context from the tax snapshot. Applying the 0.57% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $146,700 gives a planning estimate near $836 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 7.44%.
How much does it cost to rent in St. Andrews, SC?+
The typical monthly rent in St. Andrews is around $1,060. That's roughly 21% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $146,700, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in St. Andrews, SC?+
The typical home value in St. Andrews is $146,700. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $712/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. About 30% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in St. Andrews?+
Grocery prices in St. Andrews 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.
What is St. Andrews, SC like to live in?+
St. Andrews is a small town with a population of about 20,953. The median age of residents is 31.7, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 23.52%, above the national average of 12.4%.