States › South Carolina › Carolina Forest

Is Carolina Forest, SC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7431% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$80,279about $6,690/month · 8% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$336,8001% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.2 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $69,720 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other South Carolina cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of South Carolina. It is number 72 of 101 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Carolina Forest
$1,743
Simpsonville
$1,691
North Augusta
$1,573
Mauldin
$2,017
Conway
$1,678
Easley
$1,588
Lexington
$1,814

How much do households earn in Carolina Forest?

Under $25k
6.3%
$25k–50k
22.9%
$50k–100k
40.9%
$100k–150k
15.7%
$150k+
7.1%

Share of households by yearly income. 22.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Carolina Forest

SizeCarolina ForestU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,394$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,774$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,082$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,151$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Carolina Forest overall?

Everyday prices in South Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
80
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
88
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Carolina Forest, so the South Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Carolina Forest

🏛️ Property tax$1,125a year · 0.33% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$134a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Carolina Forest

Commute to work22 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home69.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line13%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment6.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carolina Forest?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $594 a month less.

Renting
$1,743
Owning
$2,337

Owning assumes a typical $336,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,680 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Carolina Forest, SC?

Renting in Carolina Forest costs a median of about $1,743 a month in 2026, including utilities. The South Carolina median is $1,479.

How much do I need to make to live in Carolina Forest?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $69,720 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Carolina Forest cheap or expensive?

Carolina Forest is rated OK: rent takes 26.1% of the typical household income of $80,279. It ranks 72nd cheapest of 101 South Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Carolina Forest?

The median homeowner in Carolina Forest pays $1,125 a year in property taxes, about 0.33% of the median home value.

Is Carolina Forest more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in South Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Carolina Forest?

The median home value in Carolina Forest is $336,800, about 4.2 times the typical yearly household income.

26,263 people live in Carolina Forest. Numbers are typical (middle) values.