How Much to Retire in Charleston, SC (2026)
Cost-of-living index 97 (US avg = 100). Comfortable retirement costs ~$50,440/yr · Nest egg target ~$1.3M.
Retirement spending tiers
National baselines adjusted for Charleston's COL index (97 vs 100 US average). Nest egg uses the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual × 25).
Small apartment, cook at home, public transit, minimal travel
1BR apartment, dining out occasionally, one modest vacation/year
2BR home, regular dining out, two vacations/year, newer car
Owned home, frequent travel, generous entertainment budget
Upscale home, luxury travel, golf/clubs, full-time help
Monthly budget breakdown by tier
Estimated monthly allocation across spending categories
| Category | Modest | Comfortable | Premium | Affluent | Luxurious |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $854 | $1,387 | $2,001 | $2,934 | $4,668 |
| Food | $388 | $630 | $909 | $1,334 | $2,122 |
| Healthcare | $362 | $588 | $849 | $1,245 | $1,980 |
| Transport | $310 | $504 | $728 | $1,067 | $1,698 |
| Leisure | $362 | $588 | $849 | $1,245 | $1,980 |
| Misc | $310 | $504 | $728 | $1,067 | $1,698 |
| Total / month | $2,587 | $4,203 | $6,063 | $8,892 | $14,146 |
Nest egg targets
How much you need saved to fund each lifestyle, using the 4% safe withdrawal rule
| Tier | Annual spend | Monthly spend | Nest egg (4% rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest | $31,040 | $2,587 | $776K |
| Comfortable | $50,440 | $4,203 | $1.3M |
| Premium | $72,750 | $6,063 | $1.8M |
| Affluent | $106,700 | $8,892 | $2.7M |
| Luxurious | $169,750 | $14,146 | $4.2M |
Charleston retirement context
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need to retire in Charleston?
For a comfortable retirement in Charleston, plan on roughly $50,440/year ($4,203/month). That requires a nest egg of about $1.3M using the 4% safe withdrawal rule. A modest lifestyle costs ~$31,040/year, while a premium lifestyle runs ~$72,750/year.
Is Charleston a good place to retire?
Charleston has a cost of living close to the US average (index 97). Retirement budgets here are fairly typical — neither a bargain nor a budget-buster.
How is the retirement cost calculated for Charleston?
Each tier starts from a US national baseline and is scaled by Charleston's cost-of-living index (97 vs 100 US average). Nest egg targets use the 4% safe withdrawal rule (annual spend × 25). The budget allocation assumes roughly 33% housing, 15% food, 14% healthcare, 12% transport, 14% leisure, and 12% miscellaneous.
Deep-dive by tier
Spending estimates adjusted by BLS cost-of-living data · 4% safe withdrawal rule (Bengen 1994) · 2026 estimates · For general guidance only