Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Florence, South Carolina

An Aerial View of Western Florence, South Carolina, USA near the junction of Interstates I-20 and I-95.
Photo by Florence Conventions and Visitors Bureau via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Florence costs

A Pee Dee budget needs cooling, drainage, insurance, traffic, and the actual home visible

The catalog's 2024 ACS gross-rent anchors are $770 for one bedroom and $938 for two bedrooms, with a modeled local monthly estimate of $2,730. Add utilities, air conditioning, dehumidification, insurance, drainage, roof and window work, vehicle costs, fuel, groceries, prescriptions, hospital care, and storm reserves.

Request recent utility history, rent or tax terms, flood and insurance information, roof and window records, drainage, internet, tree work, parking, and the cost of a typical hospital and grocery loop. A lower housing figure can be offset by cooling, repairs, traffic, or storm recovery.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,730 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$770
Utilities (in rent)
$230
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$3,758

Very Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,111

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$770

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$233/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
12.5%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
28.6%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
38.1%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$39,003

Could Florence fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,730 per month
Two people
$4,111 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$770
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Florence in everyday life

Could Florence work for you?

What may work well

  • The catalog supplies clear planning rent anchors for the city.
  • Two regional hospital systems, parks, events, and state climate resources provide identifiable household resources.

What to think about

  • Cooling, insurance, storms, drainage, traffic, maintenance, vehicle use, and care can change the total substantially.
  • A home near a flood-prone route may add insurance, detour, drainage, and recovery costs.

Price a Florence household

  1. Compare several addresses

    Keep housing, cooling, utilities, insurance, drainage, roof, windows, trees, internet, vehicle, parking, and service distance visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price McLeod, MUSC Florence, pharmacy, groceries, specialists, referrals, fuel, parking, and storm routes.

  3. Reserve for storms

    Keep room for cooling, drainage, roof, windows, trees, power, insurance, repairs, traffic, and a ride after difficult weather.

Questions retirees ask

Are $770 and $938 the full Florence budget?

No. They are the catalog's 2024 ACS one-bedroom and two-bedroom gross-rent anchors. Add cooling, utilities, insurance, maintenance, vehicles, care, groceries, drainage, and storm reserves.

Why do Florence homes have different budgets?

Cooling, drainage, insurance, roof, windows, traffic, utilities, maintenance, vehicle use, and care distance vary by address.

Florence affordability depends on the actual home, cooling and storm plan, drainage, insurance, traffic, transport, care, and weekly services.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.