Fairfield County, SC at a glance
Median household income
$47,885$3,990 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Fairfield 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 Fairfield County, SC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Columbia, 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 | $1,032 | $12,384 | $41,280 | 25.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,164 | $13,968 | $46,560 | 29.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,276 | $15,312 | $51,040 | 32% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,623 | $19,476 | $64,920 | 40.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,911 | $22,932 | $76,440 | 47.9% |
Rent in Fairfield County, SC, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Fairfield County, SC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $47,885 a year ($3,990 a month before tax).
What $47,885 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 Fairfield County, SC: common questions
What is the median household income in Fairfield County, SC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Fairfield County, SC is $47,885 per year (approximately $3,990 per month).
What is the average rent in Fairfield County, SC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,032 for a studio, $1,164 for one bedroom, $1,276 for two, $1,623 for three and $1,911 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 Fairfield County, SC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.7, 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 Fairfield County, SC?
To keep a $1,276 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $51,040 a year, or $4,253 a month. That is 107% of what the typical household in Fairfield County, SC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Fairfield County, SC?
On the local median income of $47,885 ($3,990 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,995 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,197 for everything else and $798 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,276 takes 64% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Fairfield 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.