D-
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
85%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Five Forks South Carolina National
Cost of living12493100
Goods & Services102100100
Groceries9899100
Health care10094100
Housing18580100
Transportation9091100
Utilities92107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Five Forks, SC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Five Forks? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Five Forks stands at 124, making it 24% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Five Forks may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Five Forks falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs significantly influence the Five Forks cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 84.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Five Forks Affordable?

Is Five Forks an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Five Forks, the median home price is 87.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 76.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Five Forks come in at $112,146, which is 102.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Five Forks?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Five Forks, the utilities index stands at 7.8% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Five Forks, the housing index is 84.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Five Forks cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Five Forks is 33% higher than the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Five Forks is 24% higher than the national average
  • Five Forks housing is 85% higher than the national average
  • South Carolina general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • South Carolina state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Five Forks

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Compare Five Forks, SC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$123,538$10,295$2,882$3,707
      Renters$45,637$3,803$1,065$1,369
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Five Forks, SC, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Five Forks, homeowners have a median income of $123,538. Using that number, a maximum of $2,882 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $45,637, which means there is a maximum of $1,065 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      South Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      South Carolina 6% 9%

      South Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      South Carolina 0% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.74$24.266.1%
      Beauty Salon $51.07$45.5612.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.287.2%
      Movie $14.47$12.1319.3%
      Bowling $18.39$18.002.2%

      Groceries

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.574.6%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.31$4.937.6%
      Pizza $11.78$12.092.5%
      Beer $10.45$10.410.4%

      Health Care

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.21$125.684.4%
      Doctor $123.75$135.788.9%
      Dentist $114.80$113.291.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.43$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $534.74$468.6014.1%

      Housing

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      Home Price $347,100.00$184,700.0087.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,581.44$2,346.6932.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,677.00$949.0076.7%

      Transportation

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.2%
      Tire Balancing $56.50$59.925.7%

      Utilities

      Item Five Forks National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $170.53$193.9912.1%
      Phone $189.75$192.251.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ware Place, SC1167921.0%
      Startex, SC5568020.2%
      Saxon, SC3,7278020.0%
      Enoree, SC5608119.4%
      Southern Shops, SC3,9658218.2%
      Five Forks, SC19,39912424.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fairwood, WA19,40014847.6%
      Montrose, CO19,3961065.7%
      Monroe, WA19,40314040.2%
      Langley Park, MD19,39112121.5%
      Yorkville, IL19,38611313.2%
      Five Forks, SC19,39912424.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.