2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Santa Monica, CA vs Charleston, SC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or is it cheaper to live in Santa Monica?
- Charleston is 30.7% less expensive than Santa Monica.

Which city has more affordable housing, Charleston or Santa Monica?
- Charleston housing costs are 78.7% less expensive than Santa Monica housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Santa Monica or is Health Care more affordable in Charleston.
- Health related expenses are 7.0% more in Charleston.
 Santa Monica, CACharleston, SCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock112.0100
 Food & Groceries111.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.5100
 Housing622.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$493,200$338,100
 Utilities81  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock94.1100
 Miscellaneous133.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Santa Monica    24 Reviews

I moved here to Santa Monica over 10 years ago from Oklahoma City. I was surprised to see that Oklahoma City was ranked higher than Santa Monica on best places. I  More

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I've lived in Santa Monica for over 30 years. It's a Mediterranean climate--sunny and temperate when the rest of the country is under snow! I am walking distance to  More

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I have lived in this city for 4 decades, and it is never been worse than it is now. It is a dangerous disgusting hell hole. Between the crime, the homeless that are not  More

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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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