Cost of living index

Sumter, SC

88.0 / 100

Living in Sumter, SC is 12.0% cheaper than the US average — the #337 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,006/mo

Median home value: $159,500

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

Winter
59° / 39°F
(15° / 4°C)
10.2 in precip
Spring
77° / 54°F
(25° / 12°C)
9.1 in precip
Summer
92° / 72°F
(33° / 22°C)
14.2 in precip
Fall
77° / 56°F
(25° / 13°C)
10.2 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from COLUMBIA OWENS DWTN AP, via NOAA.

The Sumter, SC metro area has an overall price level of 88.0 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 12.0% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 60.8 it is 39.2% below 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#337 of 387
88.0
Goods#183 of 387
96.3
Housing rents#319 of 387
60.8
Utilities#240 of 387
87.3
Other services#234 of 387
98.3

Sumter, SC is moved down the most by housing rents, at 60.8 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

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 Sumter, SC an expensive place to live?

Sumter, SC has an overall cost-of-living index of 88.0, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 12.0% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Sumter, SC?

Housing rents in Sumter, SC score 60.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 39.2% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Sumter, SC compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Sumter, SC sit at 88.0 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 60.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.