Home project costs in Charleston, SC
Every project we cover, priced for the Charleston-North Charleston metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Charleston-North Charleston area is 101.0 against 100 for the US, which puts Charleston 60th among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 96.3. BLS counts roughly 394,170 jobs here.
In Charleston, 0 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 38 below. The highest against the national midpoint are sod installation (−4%), gutters (−5%) and vinyl fence (−5%); the biggest discounts are home addition (−12%), kitchen backsplash (−11%) and composite deck (−10%). The spread comes from which trades each job uses: a labor-heavy job follows local wages, while a materials-heavy job follows the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Charleston City, 4 miles away) shows a January average low of 44°F, a July average high of 88°F and 44 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, every month is workable; for exterior installation, every month is workable.
What local trades earn in Charleston
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $18.00 | $20.98 | $24.49 | $22.66 | 0.93 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $21.37 | $24.22 | $29.52 | $29.12 | 0.83 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $23.39 | $24.35 | $29.69 | $28.78 | 0.85 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $23.50 | $27.58 | $31.15 | $30.67 | 0.90 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $22.52 | $25.27 | $30.36 | $27.41 | 0.92 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $23.54 | $28.37 | $31.81 | $30.38 | 0.93 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $18.81 | $23.09 | $29.46 | $26.65 | 0.87 |
Concrete & paving in Charleston
Across these 7 projects, Charleston averages −7% against national midpoints. Concrete slab is highest at −6% and asphalt driveway lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Charleston | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,900 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Charleston | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | −7% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Charleston | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,700 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Charleston | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
| Paver patio cost in Charleston | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,050 | −8% |
| Concrete patio cost in Charleston | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Charleston | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,500 | −6% |
Decks & outdoor in Charleston
Across these 2 projects, Charleston averages −9% against national midpoints. Wood deck is highest at −9% and composite deck lowest at −10%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Charleston | 300 sq ft | $6,900 – $13,900 | −9% |
| Composite deck cost in Charleston | 300 sq ft | $10,800 – $21,600 | −10% |
Building & additions in Charleston
The 2 jobs here average −10% versus the US in Charleston, from −12% (home addition) to −8% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Charleston | 576 sq ft | $26,700 – $53,500 | −8% |
| Home addition cost in Charleston | 300 sq ft | $33,600 – $68,200 | −12% |
Doors & windows in Charleston
Across these 5 projects, Charleston averages −7% against national midpoints. Garage door is highest at −6% and patio door lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Charleston | 1 door | $650 – $3,500 | −6% |
| Storm door cost in Charleston | 1 door | $320 – $880 | −8% |
| Front door cost in Charleston | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Window replacement cost in Charleston | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Patio door cost in Charleston | 1 door | $560 – $5,500 | −9% |
Fencing in Charleston
Across these 4 projects, Charleston averages −7% against national midpoints. Vinyl fence is highest at −5% and chain-link fence lowest at −8%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Charleston | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,100 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Charleston | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Charleston | 150 linear ft | $1,450 – $5,650 | −8% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Charleston | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
Roofing & exterior in Charleston
Across these 5 projects, Charleston averages −8% against national midpoints. Gutters is highest at −5% and roof replacement lowest at −9%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Charleston | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof cost in Charleston | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,200 – $30,200 | −8% |
| Gutters cost in Charleston | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Charleston | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,700 – $23,100 | −8% |
| Attic insulation cost in Charleston | 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $3,700 | −8% |
Kitchen & bath in Charleston
The 5 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Charleston, from −11% (kitchen backsplash) to −6% (kitchen remodel).
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Charleston | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −9% |
| Shower pan cost in Charleston | 1 pan | $810 – $2,550 | −10% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Charleston | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Charleston | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Charleston | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −11% |
Landscaping & drainage in Charleston
The 5 jobs here average −7% versus the US in Charleston, from −9% (retaining wall) to −4% (sod installation).
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Charleston | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −6% |
| Retaining wall cost in Charleston | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation cost in Charleston | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −4% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Charleston | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool cost in Charleston | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,500 | −8% |
Flooring & interior in Charleston
Across these 3 projects, Charleston averages −9% against national midpoints. Hardwood flooring is highest at −8% and tile flooring lowest at −10%.
| Project | Size | Charleston range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Charleston | 500 sq ft | $5,050 – $11,500 | −8% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Charleston | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Tile flooring cost in Charleston | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
Charleston against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Charleston prices −8% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, none price higher and 5 lower. Myrtle Beach is the lowest at −11% (85 miles) and Hilton Head the highest at −8% (65 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | 101.0 | 96.3 | −8% | |
| Hilton Head, SC | 65 miles | 98.0 | 96.3 | −8% |
| Florence, SC | 80 miles | 86.8 | 96.3 | −9% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 85 miles | 93.6 | 96.3 | −11% |
| Columbia, SC | 95 miles | 93.7 | 96.3 | −9% |
| Savannah, GA | 95 miles | 95.2 | 96.3 | −11% |
| Augusta, GA | 120 miles | 91.9 | 96.3 | −8% |