Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Daly City, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960 ✓ Larger
Daly City
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $634k less ($438,900 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $1037/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,554)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Daly City by $31,019/yr
Daly City, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,019 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Home Value
$634k less
$438,900 vs $1,073,100
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
25.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 61.8°F
Daly City
Median Income
$31,019
$114,910 vs $83,891/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
17% lower
296.3 vs 357.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Daly City, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,073,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,554⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $114,910 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 20.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 ✓ Larger | 103,648 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 19.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Daly City's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 13 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 13 and Daly City wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charleston to Daly City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $1,073,100 median home), income ($83,891 vs $114,910), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Daly City, CA are about 2,400 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.