Thinking about moving to Mount Pleasant? Mount Pleasant real estate sits just across the Cooper River from Charleston in Charleston County. Daily costs land above the national average because housing is expensive relative to most places to live in South Carolina, while utilities and transportation are closer to regional norms.
The overall cost of living in Mount Pleasant, SC reflects strong demand from people living in Charleston and the broader Charleston South Carolina metro, plus steady job growth. Below is a clear look at typical living expenses, with current market numbers date stamped so you can compare the cost of living to the national average.
Is It Expensive To Buy A Home In Mt Pleasant, SC?
Housing costs are the main driver of the higher cost of living in Mount Pleasant. The local real estate market remains competitive compared with many city and suburban areas in South Carolina. In September 2025, Redfin reported a median sale price of about $951,000 in ZIP 29464 with a typical 58 days on market.
Across the full city, Redfin’s market page also showed a recent median near $813,000 and roughly 69 days on market, which helps illustrate neighborhood and price-point variation within Mount Pleasant as part of the current market in Charleston. These figures are for September and the most recent month available in fall 2025.
New homes and renovated properties tend to command premiums, and insurance costs are a material consideration. Buyers comparing the average cost of living in coastal communities should factor homeowners insurance and potential wind or flood coverage when estimating monthly costs. That is typical for a coastal city in South Carolina and contributes to a high cost of living compared with many U.S. suburbs.
What is the Average Rent in Mt Pleasant, SC?
Rents track higher than the national average. Zillow’s Observed Rent Index shows an average rent of approximately $2,357 in Mount Pleasant in October 2025 compared with a U.S. average near $1,949 the same month. Zillow’s local market page also shows typical asking rents trending roughly flat month over month and up modestly year over year in late 2025. If you are living in Mount Pleasant as a renter, that difference explains a large share of monthly living expenses.
A separate Zillow rental trends page lists a rough local average around $3,200 across home types, which aligns with large single-family rentals and higher bedroom counts common in Mount P. The rent range is wide, so individual listings can sit below or well above the average person living solo might expect. Those data were current in late 2025.
What Are The Taxes in Mt Pleasant, SC?
South Carolina’s tax structure influences the overall cost of living. The state income tax is graduated and has been phasing down at the top bracket. As of Tax Year 2025, the South Carolina Department of Revenue notes the top marginal rate is 6 percent, reduced from prior years.
Sales tax totals commonly come to 7 to 9 percent when local options are included in Charleston County. These elements help explain why some costs to live here are higher than the national average while others, like property tax rates, can be lower than the national average.
How High Are Property Taxes in Mt Pleasant, SC?
South Carolina uses assessment ratios rather than a single statewide property tax rate. In Charleston County, a primary residence is assessed at 4 percent of fair market value and a second home or investment property is assessed at 6 percent.
Local millage then applies, and homeowners receive property tax relief on the school operating portion for their legal residence. The county provides current millage cards and an estimator so residents can compare scenarios for 2024 and 2025. These mechanics are why effective property tax burdens in Mount Pleasant are often lower than in many U.S. coastal markets even when home values are high.
What Are the Average Monthly Utility Bills in Mt Pleasant, SC?
Electric bills depend on usage and the price of power. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports South Carolina’s average residential electricity price near 12.9 cents per kWh in November 2025, which is slightly lower than the U.S. average for many coastal states but higher than some interior regions.
EIA also noted that 2025 results are preliminary and that power prices and demand have been trending up nationally due to data centers and other factors, which can affect monthly costs going forward. For budgeting, many households in Charleston County see summer bills rise with air-conditioning demand and milder bills in spring and fall.
Water, sewer, and solid waste are set by local providers and will vary by household size. When you compare the cost of living between places, keep the utility line item close to your own historical consumption instead of relying on a single statewide average.
How Much Should I Budget for Groceries in Mt Pleasant, SC?
Food prices in the South region rose modestly in 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the Consumer Price Index for the South region showed a 0.3 percent monthly rise in August 2025, with the food index up 0.3 percent that month.
Over the 12 months ending September 2025, the national CPI for all items increased 3.0 percent, and food at home categories in the South generally tracked close to that range. Grocery costs in Mount Pleasant are a little above the U.S. average for many households, but not outsized relative to housing costs for a practical monthly budget. Date these assumptions to late 2025 and revisit as new BLS releases post. Using a cost of living calculator and your own basket can refine the estimate for your household.
How Much Does Transportation Cost in Mt Pleasant, SC?
CARTA operates a regional bus service that connects Mount Pleasant with Charleston. As of 2025, standard one-way fares are 2.00 dollars for regular routes and 3.50 dollars for express routes. Pass options include a 31-day pass at 57 dollars and an express 31-day pass at 99 dollars. If you primarily commute by car, fuel, insurance rates, and parking determine most of the cost, and those vary by vehicle and coverage.
Driving remains common across Charleston County. Gas prices and insurance costs can swing more than groceries month to month, so it is useful to check current averages before you move to Charleston or adjust a commuting budget. The bus network helps with downtown trips and event days, while many residents choose to drive for cross-county travel.
What is the Median Household Income in Mt Pleasant, SC?
Mount Pleasant is a higher-income city in South Carolina compared with the state as a whole. Census Reporter, which presents American Community Survey results, lists a 2023 median household income of approximately 127,357 dollars, with per-capita income near 72,987 dollars. DataUSA, which compiles ACS flows, shows a similar pattern with a 2023 median household income around 121,364 dollars. These figures give context for how households cover living expenses in an area with higher housing costs than the national average. Dates are 2023 releases referenced in 2024–2025.
Income levels vary by occupation and household type. Many residents work across Charleston’s employment centers, including health care, education, manufacturing, tourism, and the port economy in North Charleston, which ties back to the overall cost of living and the current market in Charleston.
What is the Recommended Income to Live In Mt Pleasant, SC?
A common rule of thumb is to keep total housing costs near 30 percent of gross income. With a typical rent in the mid 2,000s as of October 2025 or a mortgage on a home price in the high six figures, households often need well above the U.S. median income to live comfortably in Mount Pleasant.
Using the rental average near 2,357 dollars, a renter might target a gross monthly income around 7,800 to 8,000 dollars to maintain that 30 percent threshold. Homeownership budgets depend on down payment, mortgage rate, property taxes at the 4 percent assessment for a legal residence, insurance rates, and utility usage. These are standard guidelines rather than legal requirements.
How Does the Cost of Living in Mt Pleasant, SC Compare to the National Average?
Housing costs in Mount Pleasant sit well above both U.S. and South Carolina norms and are the main reason the town’s overall cost of living index runs higher than average. Typical home values and sale prices are significantly above Charleston County and statewide medians, and local rents track at a clear premium versus other South Carolina metros and the national median rent.
By contrast, South Carolina’s average residential electricity rates and broader utility costs are close to or slightly below U.S. norms, and regional food and transportation costs track in line with other Southern counties. When you compare Mount Pleasant with similar coastal communities in neighbouring states, the gap in total cost of living is still mostly explained by its higher housing costs rather than day-to-day expenses like groceries, utilities, or transit.
Pros, Cons of Living and What It Really Costs to Live there
If you’re planning to move to Mount Pleasant or weighing whether to move to Charleston, South Carolina, start by listing the pros and cons of living here against your budget. Housing and the current market drive most differences versus other parts of South Carolina: expect higher-than-average purchase prices and rents, and factor in the premium paid for proximity to Charleston and coastal amenities.
If you move to Mount Pleasant, plan for wide variation by neighborhood and home type—new homes and waterfront properties drag averages up while some inland pockets remain comparatively affordable.
When you total what it really costs to live in Mount Pleasant, include the usual housing line items plus home insurance rates and optional flood or wind coverage; the insurance industry prices coastal exposure into premiums. Also budget utilities, groceries, commuting or transit, and local taxes—those components are required to live here and often push monthly costs above national norms. Recent market reports let you know everything about living costs and the current market so you can align income targets, financing, and contingency cushions before you commit.
FAQs
What local taxes should new residents plan for beyond income tax?
Expect the 6 percent top state income tax rate for Tax Year 2025 if your income reaches the highest bracket, plus a 6 percent state sales tax and local options that typically bring combined sales tax to about 7 to 9 percent in Charleston County. Vehicle property taxes are assessed annually, and new residents should budget registration and tag fees in the first year. Charleston County posts current millage and assessment details each tax year.
What are typical commuting options and costs if I work in Charleston?
Many residents drive via U.S. 17 or I-526, and fuel plus parking make up most of the cost. CARTA’s bus system provides a low-cost alternative for some routes, with a 2.00 dollar regular one-way fare and discounted passes as of 2025. Combining transit for downtown trips with occasional rideshare is a common pattern for those looking to trim transportation expenses.
How do Mount Pleasant incomes compare to the broader region?
Mount Pleasant’s median household income is notably higher than South Carolina and the U.S. on recent ACS releases. That income profile helps explain how residents cover higher housing costs while other categories like utilities and groceries look closer to regional averages. Census Reporter and DataUSA both show median household income above 120,000 dollars for 2023.
Is the overall cost of living lower than the national average if I already own a home?
If you already own with a low fixed rate and benefit from South Carolina’s 4 percent legal residence assessment ratio, your monthly housing costs may undercut newcomers. Carrying costs still include insurance and utilities, which move with market conditions. For many households, the overall cost of living remains higher than the national average because other line items are similar while housing is the big difference.
Do grocery costs in Mount Pleasant track the national trend?
In 2025, the South region’s food index showed modest monthly increases, and national food-at-home categories were up year over year by a few percent. That places local grocery budgets a bit above 2023 levels but not dramatically different from other Southeast metros. Keep an eye on BLS monthly updates for the most current numbers.
