C
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
33%
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 Port Royal South Carolina National
Cost of living11093100
Goods & Services104100100
Groceries9999100
Health care10294100
Housing13380100
Transportation9791100
Utilities95107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Port Royal, SC

Knowing the cost of living in Port Royal allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Port Royal stands at 110, marking it 10% higher than the national average.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Port Royal, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 32.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Port Royal Affordable?

Is Port Royal affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Port Royal, for instance, where the median home price falls 31.4% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 36.2% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Port Royal flaunting a median household income of $59,081, 6.8% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Port Royal?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Port Royal, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Port Royal, the groceries index is 1.3% 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.

Where is the Data From?

The Port Royal cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors 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 Port Royal is 18% higher than the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Port Royal is 10% higher than the national average
  • Port Royal housing is 33% 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 Port Royal

See all the best places to live around Port Royal

Compare Port Royal, 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$74,604$6,217$1,741$2,238
      Renters$50,145$4,179$1,170$1,505
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Port Royal is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Port Royal has a median income of about $74,604 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,741 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $50,145. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,170 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Port Royal National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.56$24.269.5%
      Beauty Salon $53.61$45.5617.7%
      Toothpaste $3.50$3.705.5%
      Shampoo $1.21$1.285.5%
      Movie $10.50$12.1313.5%
      Bowling $22.67$18.0025.9%

      Groceries

      Item Port Royal National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.79$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.45$1.577.6%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.5%
      Potatoes $5.52$4.9311.9%
      Pizza $14.49$12.0919.9%
      Beer $10.68$10.412.6%

      Health Care

      Item Port Royal National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $200.92$125.6859.9%
      Doctor $126.20$135.787.1%
      Dentist $104.00$113.298.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.65$10.650.0%
      Lipitor $532.91$468.6013.7%

      Housing

      Item Port Royal National avg. Difference
      Home Price $242,700.00$184,700.0031.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,171.17$2,346.697.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,293.00$949.0036.2%

      Transportation

      Item Port Royal National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.24$3.466.3%
      Tire Balancing $63.17$59.925.4%

      Utilities

      Item Port Royal National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.25$193.997.1%
      Phone $190.25$192.251.0%
      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.
      Burton, SC8,779945.8%
      Shell Point, SC2,991990.5%
      Laurel Bay, SC6,3881000.1%
      Beaufort, SC13,4171065.5%
      Bluffton, SC23,17612121.3%
      Port Royal, SC13,26511010.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Conway, FL13,26611010.5%
      Colchester, Subd. C, NS13,273n/a 
      Richmond Hill, GA13,2501077.2%
      Bellefontaine, OH13,250946.5%
      Channahon, IL13,28111212.3%
      Port Royal, SC13,26511010.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.