Cost of Living in Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hilton Head Island, SC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hilton Head Island, SC?
With a price level of 98.0 (U.S. average = 100), Hilton Head Island, SC is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs cost about the same as the national average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Hilton Head Island, SC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.0 | −2.0% |
| Housing | 101.2 | +1.2% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 88.1 | −11.9% |
| Other services | 98.3 | −1.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hilton Head Island, SC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,550 | $62,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,623 | $64,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,779 | $71,160/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,133 | $85,320/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,656 | $106,240/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hilton Head Island, SC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Hilton Head Island, SC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,200 | $32,482 |
| $60,000 | $58,800 | $47,055 |
| $80,000 | $78,400 | $60,438 |
| $100,000 | $98,000 | $73,050 |
| $150,000 | $147,000 | $104,078 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, South Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Hilton Head Island, SC's median wage of $43,850 takes home about $2,995 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,623, which is 54% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,372 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hilton Head Island, SC
- Federal income tax$3,082
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,719
- Medicare (1.45%)$636
- South Carolina income tax$1,474
- Take-home pay$35,940
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Hilton Head Island, SC
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | $33,880 | $28,527 | $29,104 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,550 | $25,308 | $25,820 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $19,830 | $17,705 | $18,063 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in South Carolina cities
Half of South Carolina’s 2,305,080 workers earn less than $46,490 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $34,630–$70,340 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Spartanburg, SC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Myrtle Beach, SC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,947 | $41,608 |
| Greenville, SC | $46,580 | 93.3 | $1,155 | 37% | $2,009 | $40,713 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,430 | 93.7 | $1,139 | 36% | $2,016 | $40,420 |
| Charleston, SC | $49,150 | 101.0 | $1,630 | 49% | $1,693 | $39,500 |
| Augusta, GA | $45,990 | 91.9 | $1,110 | 35% | $2,018 | $40,837 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $47,650 | 91.1 | $1,061 | 33% | $2,169 | $42,575 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $37,930 | 93.6 | $1,229 | 47% | $1,399 | $33,679 |
| Florence, SC | $43,520 | 86.8 | $922 | 31% | $2,053 | $41,135 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $43,850 | 98.0 | $1,623 | 54% | $1,372 | $36,667 |
| Sumter, SC | $42,890 | 88.0 | $972 | 33% | $1,963 | $40,020 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Hilton Head Island, SC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 98.0 | $1,623 | $43,850 | 81,920 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 94.4 | $1,095 | $46,800 | 81,840 |
| Johnson City, TN | 87.9 | $893 | $43,480 | 81,690 |
| Bowling Green, KY | 90.2 | $937 | $45,040 | 82,160 |
| Odessa, TX | 93.9 | $1,269 | $48,590 | 80,910 |
| Greenville, NC | 88.4 | $896 | $46,560 | 80,770 |
| Houma, LA | 85.1 | $904 | $45,610 | 83,440 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hilton Head Island, SC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area are 98.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 101.2%. It is the #114 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hilton Head Island, SC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,810 in Hilton Head Island, SC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $43,850.
Can you afford Hilton Head Island, SC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $43,850 median wage takes home about $2,995 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,623 would take 54% of that.
How much is rent in Hilton Head Island, SC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hilton Head Island, SC are $1,550 for a studio, $1,623 for one bedroom, $1,779 for two bedrooms and $2,133 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Hilton Head Island, SC
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $19,830
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $33,880