Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
61% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $26,354 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($215,500 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,517)
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $26,354/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$26,354
$83,891 vs $57,537/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
61% lower
357.6 vs 908.7 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$223k less
$215,500 vs $438,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 17 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 17 and Philadelphia wins 6. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $215,500 median home), income ($83,891 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Philadelphia, PA are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.