Cost of Living in Sumter, SC
Sumter, SC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Sumter, SC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Sumter, SC?
With a price level of 88.0 (U.S. average = 100), Sumter, SC is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 39% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 13% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Sumter, SC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.0 | −12.0% |
| Housing | 60.8 | −39.2% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 87.3 | −12.7% |
| Other services | 98.3 | −1.7% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Sumter, SC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $880 | $35,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $972 | $38,880/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,276 | $51,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,530 | $61,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,871 | $74,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,200 | $29,508 |
| $60,000 | $52,800 | $42,594 |
| $80,000 | $70,400 | $55,290 |
| $100,000 | $88,000 | $66,615 |
| $150,000 | $132,000 | $94,725 |
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 Sumter, SC's median wage of $42,890 takes home about $2,935 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $972, which is 33% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,963 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Sumter, SC
- Federal income tax$2,967
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,659
- Medicare (1.45%)$622
- South Carolina income tax$1,416
- Take-home pay$35,226
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
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.
Sumter, SC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter, SC | 88.0 | $972 | $42,890 | 34,560 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 89.2 | $1,111 | $47,050 | 33,970 |
| Bay City, MI | 91.9 | $814 | $45,620 | 33,810 |
| Kokomo, IN | 89.6 | $890 | $48,980 | 35,500 |
| Elmira, NY | 94.4 | $978 | $47,850 | 33,600 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 93.5 | $988 | $41,360 | 35,580 |
| Minot, ND | 87.0 | $948 | $48,940 | 33,260 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sumter, SC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Sumter, SC metro area are 88.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 60.8%. It is the #335 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Sumter, SC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,812 in Sumter, SC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $42,890.
Can you afford Sumter, SC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $42,890 median wage takes home about $2,935 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $972 would take 33% of that.
How much is rent in Sumter, SC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Sumter, SC are $880 for a studio, $972 for one bedroom, $1,276 for two bedrooms and $1,530 for three bedrooms, including utilities.