2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Charleston, SC vs Palo Alto, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto or is it cheaper to live in Charleston?
- Palo Alto is 106.3% more expensive than Charleston.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palo Alto or Charleston?
- Palo Alto housing costs are 760.2% more expensive than Charleston housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Charleston or is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto.
- Health related expenses are 11.6% more in Palo Alto.
 Charleston, SCPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries105.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing132.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$3,107,600$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock140.6100
 Miscellaneous93.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Charleston    76 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

Charleston is beautiful and unique and incredibly special. If you don't believe me, just ask Anthony Bourdain in his Parts Unknown episode - and he was an insightful  More

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Serious lack of health care and "good old boys club" whereby doctors will not even see the patient but diagnose them based on referring doctor. My sister died there for  More

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Over 5 years ago

Boy, has this once beautiful town changed...for the worse! I initially moved here 20 years ago because the people were so nice, no traffic, great choice of hospitals,  More

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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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