If you live in SC you need to spend this much money to live comfortably, new report says

South Carolina may not be the most expensive state to live in, but it’s certainly not the cheapest, a new report shows.

Personal finance site GoBankingRates recently released a report detailing the current cost of living in each state. Americans’ lives have gotten more expensive in recent years because of high inflation and rising cost of living. The inflation rate for all items in the U.S. increased 2.7% over the last 12 months ending in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

SC cost of living

So how much does it cost to live in the Palmetto State in 2025?

According to the report, the average annual cost of living is $74,112 in South Carolina. The report notes that the biggest chunk of cost in the state goes to utilities.

South Carolina’s cost of living places it as the 26th cheapest state to live in, the report states. North Carolina was more expensive, ranking 28th cheapest with an annual average cost of living at $75,580. Hawaii was by far the most expensive state to live in with a $144,436 average annual cost of living.

Methodology

Researchers used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Economic Research Information Center and theBureau of Labor Statistics to calculate the annual cost living index for each state compared to the overall national average. The study included costs associated with six categories: housing, utilities, groceries, healthcare, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

5 states with highest cost of living

1. Hawaii: $144,436
   
   
2. Massachusetts: $112,752
   
   
3. California: $111,901
   
   
4. Alaska: $95,673
   
   
5. New York: $95,286
   
   

5 states with lowest cost of living

1. West Virginia: $64,992
   
   
2. Oklahoma: $66,229
   
   
3. Kansas: $67,234
   
   
4. Mississippi: $67,929
   
   
5. Alabama: $68,006
   
   

This story was originally published July 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

Patrick McCreless

The State

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Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. The team writes about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.