I know many have witness an increase in prices across the board from restaurant meals, to rent, to housing costs, to entertainment. We have been engrossed in a renaissance of cultural and economic explosion and it has affected our wallets. Lets look at Charleston by the numbers and see the changes by the statistics.

Household Value / Rent / Income Summary

Median Gross Rent (2013): $970

Median Household Income: $54,970 ($35,295 in 2000)

Estimated average house and/or condo value: $241,500 (SC Average: $139,200)

*city-data.com

2015 Charleston City Budget – 187,752,856 (Up 4.75% from 2014)

Revenues: $149,378,687

Expenditures: $154,496,385

General Fund Deficit: -$5,117,698

Per Capita Income (www.usa.com) – Based on Data from 2010-2014

Charleston – $33,117

South Carolina – $24,222

United States – $28,555

Median Individual Annual Income:

Charleston – $30,706 / South Carolina – $26,972 / United States – 30,815

Males: Charleston – $35,663 / South Carolina – $31,966 / United States – $36,116

Females: Charleston – $26,782 / South Carolina – $22,711 / United States – $25,692

Taxes:

Sales Tax – Charleston, SC – 8.500% / South Carolina – 6.000%

Hospitality Tax / Restaurant Tax – Charleston, SC – 2.000% / Total Restaurant Tax – 10.500%

Tour Tax – Charleston, SC – $0.50 fee on every ticket of admission

Hotel Tax – Charleston, SC – 12.500%http://www.areavibes.com/charleston-sc/cost-of-living/

Population Categorized by Career Industry

Top population: Management, Business, Finance – 15.160%

Lowest population: Farming, fishing, forestry – 0.170%

Top income category: Less than 15K – 16.510%

Lowest percentage income category: Between 150K – 200K – 4.420%

Cost of Living Index – Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC – 112

South Carolina – 95

National (United States) – 100

Housing Index: Charleston, SC – 131 / South Carolina – 78 / United States – 100

Utilities Index: Charleston, SC – 112 / South Carolina – 104 / United States – 100

Groceries Index: Charleston, SC – 108 / South Carolina – 109 / United States – 100

Health Care Index: Charleston, SC – 107 / South Carolina – 100 / United States – 100