A+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
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 St. Andrews South Carolina National
Cost of living9093100
Goods & Services98100100
Groceries9999100
Health care8694100
Housing6680100
Transportation8291100
Utilities131107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in St. Andrews, SC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in St. Andrews? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in St. Andrews stands at 90, making it 10% 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.

Is St. Andrews Affordable?

Is St. Andrews 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 St. Andrews, for instance, where the median home price falls 45.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with St. Andrews flaunting a median household income of $37,218, 32.7% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in St. Andrews?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In St. Andrews, the housing index is 33.9% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In St. Andrews, the utilities index registers at 31% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In St. Andrews, healthcare costs are 14.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in St. Andrews displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in St. Andrews is 4% lower than the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in St. Andrews is 10% lower than the national average
  • St. Andrews housing is 34% 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 St. Andrews

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Compare St. Andrews, 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$56,008$4,667$1,307$1,680
      Renters$33,478$2,790$781$1,004
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in St. Andrews 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. St. Andrews has a median income of about $56,008 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,307 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $33,478. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $781 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 St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.75$24.2614.5%
      Beauty Salon $30.56$45.5632.9%
      Toothpaste $3.65$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.283.6%
      Movie $12.93$12.136.6%
      Bowling $24.33$18.0035.2%

      Groceries

      Item St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.15$5.845.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.61$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $5.50$4.9311.5%
      Pizza $10.35$12.0914.4%
      Beer $10.53$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $59.00$125.6853.1%
      Doctor $150.00$135.7810.5%
      Dentist $78.33$113.2930.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.46$10.651.8%
      Lipitor $416.30$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      Home Price $100,100.00$184,700.0045.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,725.28$2,346.6926.5%
      Apartment Rent $892.00$949.006.0%

      Transportation

      Item St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.22$3.466.9%
      Tire Balancing $32.03$59.9246.5%

      Utilities

      Item St. Andrews National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $290.58$193.9949.8%
      Phone $192.75$192.250.3%
      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.
      Springdale CDP, SC2,3558317.3%
      Jenkinsville, SC368515.2%
      Springdale, SC2,8788712.8%
      Hopkins, SC2,0688812.4%
      Peak, SC54918.8%
      St. Andrews, SC21,3559010.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Selden, NY21,33813535.1%
      Joliette, QC21,376n/a 
      Cartersville, GA21,3311010.6%
      Montclair, VA21,32914444.2%
      La Porte, IN21,3288316.8%
      St. Andrews, SC21,3559010.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.