Beaufort County, SC at a glance
Median household income
$86,573$7,214 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Beaufort County, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Beaufort County, SC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Beaufort County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,582 | $18,984 | $63,280 | 21.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,657 | $19,884 | $66,280 | 23% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,816 | $21,792 | $72,640 | 25.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,177 | $26,124 | $87,080 | 30.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,720 | $32,640 | $108,800 | 37.7% |
Rent in Beaufort County, SC, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Beaufort County, SC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $86,573 a year ($7,214 a month before tax).
What $86,573 leaves after South Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in South Carolina
Living in Beaufort County, SC: common questions
What is the median household income in Beaufort County, SC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Beaufort County, SC is $86,573 per year (approximately $7,214 per month).
What is the average rent in Beaufort County, SC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,582 for a studio, $1,657 for one bedroom, $1,816 for two, $2,177 for three and $2,720 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Beaufort County, SC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 98.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Beaufort County, SC?
To keep a $1,816 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $72,640 a year, or $6,053 a month. That is 84% of what the typical household in Beaufort County, SC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Beaufort County, SC?
On the local median income of $86,573 ($7,214 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,607 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,164 for everything else and $1,443 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,816 takes 50% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Beaufort County, SC?
Homes in South Carolina paid 15.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $140. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.