States › South Carolina › James Island

Is James Island, SC expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7832% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$112,398about $9,367/month · 29% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$508,60053% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 57% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.5 years of household income. Most homes (87.5%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $71,320 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 77 of 101 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

James Island
$1,783
Oak Grove
$1,614
Fountain Inn
$1,246
Irmo
$1,471
Gaffney
$958
Little River
$1,797
Garden City
$1,549

How much do households earn in James Island?

Under $25k
6.3%
$25k–50k
15.1%
$50k–100k
38.0%
$100k–150k
22.5%
$150k+
16.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 38.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is James Island 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 James Island, so the South Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in James Island

🏛️ Property tax$1,784a year · 0.35% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$211a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in James Island

Commute to work22.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree49.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home87.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line5.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.2%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in James Island?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,746 a month less.

Renting
$1,783
Owning
$3,529

Owning assumes a typical $508,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $50,860 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in James Island, SC?

Renting in James Island costs a median of about $1,783 a month in 2026, including utilities. The South Carolina median is $1,479.

How much do I need to make to live in James Island?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $71,320 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is James Island cheap or expensive?

James Island is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.0% of the typical household income of $112,398. It ranks 77th cheapest of 101 South Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in James Island?

The median homeowner in James Island pays $1,784 a year in property taxes, about 0.35% of the median home value.

Is James Island 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 James Island?

The median home value in James Island is $508,600, about 4.5 times the typical yearly household income.

12,198 people live in James Island. Numbers are typical (middle) values.