It costs the most to live in these 10 SC cities, bill data shows. Where is living the cheapest?

Patrick McCreless
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Nobody likes paying bills.

But try as we might, escaping them is all but an impossibility. What some people can do at least is find ways to cut spending where they can — or live in a place where bills are cheaper.

The average household in South Carolina pays $1,783 a month for the 10 most common household bills, according to doxoINSIGHTS, a web and mobile bill pay service. The company’s data for the 10 most common bills includes mortgage; rent; auto loan; utilities (electric, gas, water and sewer); auto insurance; cable and internet and phone; health insurance; mobile phone; alarm and security; and life insurance.

According to a recent study by doxoINSIGHTS, the Palmetto State does fairly well overall in terms of bill costs, ranking 33rd out of 50 states for average monthly spending. South Carolina household expenses are also 11% lower, on average, than the national average of $2,003 a month, the study shows.

However, while South Carolina’s household spending is relatively low compared to most other states, there are several cities that are above even the national average. The study analyzed 85 cities and towns in South Carolina to determine which ones are the most expensive to live in.

Columbia, for instance, came in at 38th most expensive, with residents paying $1,783 on average in monthly bills.

Below are the 10 cities with the highest monthly bill expenses in South Carolina. The list includes the monthly bill expenses and percent of household income used for bills in each city.

  1. Hilton Head: $2,569 | 41%

  2. Bluffton: $2,524 | 43%

  3. Mount Pleasant: $2,524 | 32%

  4. Charleston: $2,185 | 43%

  5. Fort Mill: $2,166 | 29%

  6. Greer: $2,080 | 28%

  7. Ladson: $2,069 | 41%

  8. Okatie: $2,062 | 36%

  9. Johns Island: $2,040 | 33%

  10. Clemson: $2,017 | 57%

Here is a list of the 10 most affordable South Carolina cities regarding household bills, with 10 being the top most affordable. The list includes the monthly bill expenses and percent of household income used for bills in each city.

  1. Darlington: $1,478 | 56%

  2. Abbeville: $1,472 | 48%

  3. Manning: $1,467 | 46%

  4. Liberty: $1,466 | 36%

  5. Westminster: $1,452 | 42%

  6. Gaffney: $1,446 | 45%

  7. Loris: $1,446 | 50%

  8. Lake City: $1,446 | 45%

  9. Chesnee: $1,433 | 38%

  10. Kingstree: $1,363 | 53%

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