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We’re talking about the cost of planting some roots in the Holy City. | Photo by Cody Silver on Unsplash

With Charleston ranking No. 1 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the Top 10 U.S. Cities 2022 and undertaking multiple high-profile developments this year, we figured it was time to talk about the cost of planting some roots in the Holy City.

The median household income in Charleston County is $67,182 according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, South Carolina is 41st in the country for median income at ~$54,864 per household.

The overall cost of living in Charleston is higher than the national average and higher than the rest of the state.

In Charleston, the cost of healthcare is lower compared to other parts of the state + the US. The cost of transportation is also lower than the national average. However, the cost of groceries, housing, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have higher average costs than other cities in South Carolina and the country overall.

Breaking down the numbers

Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $50,000 annually – according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly rent budget would be $1,250. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Charleston is $1,872 — putting you over budget.

According to a recent study by ATTOM Data Solutions, it’s actually more affordable to rent a home in Charleston County than to buy.

Interested in seeing Charleston’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on nerdwallet’s cost of living calculator, where you can put in any city along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what other cities are affordable for you to live in.

We also took a look at the cost of living in Charleston compared to Greenville. Hey, GVLtoday. Here’s what we found:

The cost of living is 4% lower in Greenville.
To maintain our standard of living, we’ll need a household income of $48,146 in Greenville.
The median cost of rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,053, which is $302 less than Charleston.

The city also has the Department of Housing and Community Development, entities such as the Palmetto Community Land Trust + other government-funded programs to help develop more affordable units.

There are also a number of local organizations working on projects seemingly all the time — from the renovation of the former Archer School on Nassau Street, expected to be converted into affordable housing for older adults, to the affordable housing planned for Lowline Park for those earning 30-70% of the area median income.

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EVENTS

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Today

Music Mondays | Mon., Sep. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | The Ryder Hotel, 237 Meeting St. | Free | Swing by the hotel’s tropical poolside bar, Little Palm, for live music by local band Good Trouble.
SC Bar Law Talks: Credit Card Debt | Mon., Sep. 12 | 6-7:30 p.m. | John’s Island Library, 3531 Maybank Hwy., John’s Island | Free | Join this clinic featuring a 30-40 minute lecture presentation from a volunteer attorney followed by an open Q+A session.

Tuesday

Andrea Wulf Book Talk | Tue., Sep. 13 | 6-7 p.m. | Charleston Library Society, 164 King St. | Andrea’s newest book, “Magnificent Rebels,” paints the picture of a group of young poets, novelists, and philosophers — stick around for a signing reception.
International Piano Series: Marina Lomazov | Tue., Sep. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. | $30 | Ukrainian-American pianist Marina Lomazov opens the 32nd season of the CofC International Piano Series.

Wednesday

Awendaw Green Barn Jam | Wed., Sep. 14 | 5:50-10 p.m. | Sewee Outpost, 4853 U.S. 17 N., Awendaw | $10, cash only | Join Awendaw Green every Wednesday at the Barn Jam, an outdoor concert event featuring five different artists performing original music.
Fall Garden Strolls and Wine Tasting | Wed., Sep. 14 | 5-7 p.m. | Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd. | $25-30 | Spend the evening at Middleton Place exploring America’s oldest landscaped gardens with a glass of wine in hand.

Thursday

Live Under the Oaks | Thu., Sep. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, 1218 Belk Dr., Mount Pleasant | Free | Grab your chair + blanket for this fall outdoor concert series happening every Thursday — the lineup includes Johnny Focaccia food truck and music by Anders Thomsen.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

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100+ MORE EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

86º | Scattered thunderstorms | 50% chance of rain

Sunrise + sunset

Rise: 7:00 a.m.
Set: 7:31 p.m.

Tide

Low: 3:55 a.m. + 4:19 p.m.
High: 10:13 a.m. + 10:36 p.m.

Open

Calling all brunch lovers: Millers All Day’s long-awaited James Island location is now open in the Terrace Plaza off of Maybank Highway. Swing by daily for all-day breakfast and brunch favorites like the Mad Breakfast Casserole and signature fried chicken biscuits at 1956 Maybank Hwy. The restaurant now occupies the former Zia Taqueria spot. 🍴 (Holy City Sinner)

Coming Soon

Publix supermarket is set to open its newest location in the Lowcountry on Wed., Sept. 28. The new 48,397-sqft store will be located in the Moncks Corner Marketplace at Cypress Gardens Road. Expect a covered outdoor area + inside seating. 🛒 (The Post and Courier)

Festival

ICYMI, Firefly Distillery’s inaugural fall Food Truck Festival, originally set to be held over the weekend, was rescheduled for Sun., Oct. 23 due to weather conditions. Mark your calendars and head to the distillery at 4201 Spruill Ave. in North Charleston for the event.

Health

MUSC Health has broken ground on a new emergency + specialty services facility serving residents of Johns, Seabrook, and Kiawah islands. The new emergency room may open by the end of 2023 or early 2024, featuring a 24-hour emergency department, multiple trauma rooms, and a medical office building at 1884 Seabrook Island Rd. 🧑‍⚕️ (WCSC)

Plan Ahead

Good news, Charleston: The South Carolina Aquarium’s Aquarium Aglow immersive light show is returning this year, featuring interactive displays, photo opportunities + tens of thousands of lights. Pssst: Check out our experience at last year’s event. This year’s experience will run from Fri., Nov. 18 to Sat., Dec. 31. 💡 (WCBD)

Community

The Lowcountry Food Bank + Charleston County Public Library are teaming up to develop after-school snacks programs. Starting today, cold dinners will be served at the Main Library and the St. Paul’s Hollywood Library and five other branches will serve snacks. Meals and snacks are available to individuals ages 5-18 Monday through Friday between 3-5 p.m. (WCSC)
Here at CHStoday, we aim to bring the most relevant + engaging daily content about Charleston right to your inbox. If you enjoy our newsletter and supporting all things local, consider joining our CHStoday Membership Program. Membership helps keep our newsletter free and has some cool perks. Learn more + sign up. 📱

Real Estate

National real estate firm Northland has purchased the residential building at 511 Meeting St. This transaction marks the company’s third investment in the area during the last three years, along with Wharf 7 on Daniel Island + The Standard on James Island. 🏢 (Charleston Regional Business Journal)

DYK

There’s a new vessel in the Charleston Harbor near Pier Side Street. Any guesses on where it might be from? Well, folks: The newest Staten Island Ferry, Dorothy Day, has docked in the Holy City pending weather improvement to continue its two-week trip from Florida to New York. No departure date has been announced. 🚢 (WCBD)

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Food

Screenshot of Jeni's pumpkin cake roll ice cream.

I’m already halfway to King Street to give this a try. | Screenshot via @jenisicecreams

Lexa here.

If you’re anything like me, you’re trying to savor every last second of the summer season, while simultaneously leaning into the fact that it is officially pumpkin season. I would be remiss if I didn’t share that I have craved a pumpkin treat every day since September 1. I even found an at-home recipe for a pumpkin coffee, shoot me a message if you want it.

But I’m not just excited about pumpkin drinks. In particular, I’ve got my eyes on this Pumpkin Cake Roll ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Swing by the King Street store to grab a scoop for yourself while you wait for the shop’s second location to open.

Look forward to the new spot at 1242 Belk Dr. next to CAVA in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, set to open later this year.🍦

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alexandra.

Editor’s pick: Last week, I had the opportunity to stop by SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar in Towne Centre, and let me tell you, it was amazing.

I had an incredibly difficult time choosing something off of the menu because everything looked that good. After much deliberation, I landed on the handmade seafood ravioli with local shrimp, blue crab, and vodka sauce and it was to die for.

Did I mention the delicious calamari starter, and the Bubbles Trio wine flight? 10/10 all around. Safe to say, I’ll be back. Check out the menu + try it for yourself at 1324 Theater Dr.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Read all about The Preservation Society of Charleston‘s annual Fall Tours, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alexandra Garian, Tatum Jacaruso, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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