A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
17%
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 Fountain Inn South Carolina National
Cost of living9493100
Goods & Services102100100
Groceries9899100
Health care10094100
Housing8380100
Transportation9091100
Utilities92107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fountain Inn, SC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Fountain Inn? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Fountain Inn stands at 94, making it 6% lower 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.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Fountain Inn are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Fountain Inn can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Fountain Inn Affordable?

Is Fountain Inn an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Fountain Inn is 13.8% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 23.2% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Fountain Inn has a median household income of $65,221, which is 17.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fountain Inn?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Fountain Inn, the utilities index registers 7.8% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Fountain Inn, the transportation index is 9.7% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Fountain Inn, healthcare costs are 0.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Fountain Inn 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 Fountain Inn is equal to the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Fountain Inn is 6% lower than the national average
  • Fountain Inn housing is 17% lower 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 Fountain Inn

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Compare Fountain Inn, 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$75,851$6,321$1,770$2,276
      Renters$28,333$2,361$661$850
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Fountain Inn, SC, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Fountain Inn homeowners, is $75,851. This would allow for a maximum of $1,770 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $28,333 which would result in a maximum of $661 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Fountain Inn 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 Fountain Inn 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 Fountain Inn 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 Fountain Inn National avg. Difference
      Home Price $159,200.00$184,700.0013.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,581.44$2,346.6932.6%
      Apartment Rent $729.00$949.0023.2%

      Transportation

      Item Fountain Inn National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.2%
      Tire Balancing $56.50$59.925.7%

      Utilities

      Item Fountain Inn 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.
      Princeton, SC60981.9%
      Ware Place, SC1167921.0%
      Enoree, SC5608119.4%
      Watts Mills, SC1,9708118.9%
      Gray Court, SC7808416.1%
      Fountain Inn, SC10,127946.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Highland, IL10,122909.6%
      Orange Cove, CA10,1201066.5%
      Rotonda, FL10,11711010.0%
      Linthicum, MD10,11612222.4%
      Saint-Hippolyte, QC10,115n/a 
      Fountain Inn, SC10,127946.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.