Rent vs. Buy in Charleston County, SC

Should you rent or buy in Charleston County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$415,000

Median Rent

$1,427/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

24.2x

Homeownership Rate

63.2%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$2,098
Property Tax$145
Insurance$138

Total Monthly$2,381

Renting

Monthly Rent$1,427
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$1,452

In Charleston County, buying costs approximately $954/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Charleston County, South Carolina

Charleston County in South Carolina has a median household income of $78,795 and an effective property tax rate of 0.4%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 24.2x, renting may be more cost-effective in the short term.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in South Carolina

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.