Cost of living index

Hilton Head Island, SC

98.0 / 100

Living in Hilton Head Island, SC is 2.0% cheaper than the US average — the #114 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,448/mo

Median home value: $393,100

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Hilton Head Island, SC metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
62° / 42°F
(17° / 6°C)
9 in precip
Spring
77° / 56°F
(25° / 13°C)
8.7 in precip
Summer
90° / 73°F
(32° / 23°C)
17.1 in precip
Fall
78° / 59°F
(26° / 15°C)
10.3 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from BEAUFORT MCAS, via NOAA.

The Hilton Head Island, SC metro area has an overall price level of 98.0 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 2.0% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 101.2 it is 1.2% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#114 of 387
98.0
Goods#171 of 387
96.3
Housing rents#92 of 387
101.2
Utilities#213 of 387
88.1
Other services#231 of 387
98.3

Hilton Head Island, SC is moved down the most by utilities, at 88.1 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is housing rents.

Browse South Carolina →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Hilton Head Island, SC an expensive place to live?

Hilton Head Island, SC has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.0, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 2.0% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Housing rents in Hilton Head Island, SC score 101.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 1.2% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Hilton Head Island, SC compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Hilton Head Island, SC sit at 98.0 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 101.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.