Quality of Life Score
47.01
State Comparison
Alabama vs South Carolina
Alabama is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alabama, South Carolina has higher incomes, Alabama has lower state income tax, and South Carolina gets more sunshine.
Alabama
16
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
South Carolina
14
/ 30
metrics won
AL wins Housing
SC wins Quality of Life
AL wins Climate
SC wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alabama
winner
vs
South Carolina
Alabama scores higher on quality of life — 1.36 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Alabama is 7.7 points cheaper overall
Alabama has the lower cost-of-living index. Alabama is at 88.6, while South Carolina is at 96.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.05 further in Alabama
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $114.62 of local buying power in Alabama, versus $109.57 in South Carolina.
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Income
South Carolina income is 15.8% higher
South Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,623, compared with $54,943 in Alabama.
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Jobs
South Carolina has the higher minimum wage
South Carolina has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Alabama.
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Housing
South Carolina homes cost about 1.4x more
Alabama has the lower median home value at $174,600, versus $245,200 in South Carolina.
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Taxes
Alabama has lower state income tax
Alabama has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 5.00%, compared with 6.50% in South Carolina.
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Alabama
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
South Carolina
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.5%)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (87.2 for Alabama, 94.7 for South Carolina). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alabama
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alabama
- Alabama has a lower overall cost of living.
- Alabama has a lower housing cost index.
- Alabama has lower median home values.
- Alabama has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alabama has a lower violent crime rate.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alabama shows lower median income.
- Alabama job growth trend is weaker.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alabama education proxy is lower.
- Alabama has fewer sunny days.
South Carolina
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: South Carolina
- South Carolina shows higher median income.
- South Carolina job growth trend is stronger.
- South Carolina health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- South Carolina education proxy is higher.
- South Carolina has more sunny days.
Cons
- South Carolina has a higher overall cost of living.
- South Carolina has a higher housing cost index.
- South Carolina has higher median home values.
- South Carolina has higher property tax rates on average.
- South Carolina has a higher violent crime rate.
- South Carolina health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AL
|
SC
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Montgomery | Columbia |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
5,024,279
|
5,118,425
|
|
Median Income
|
$54,943
|
$63,623
|
|
Cost of Living
|
88.6
|
96.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$174,600
|
$245,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.38%
|
0.48%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
6.50%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.840/gal
|
$3.820/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.06 c/kWh
|
15.41 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
47.01
|
45.65
|
|
Average Temperature
|
62.8°F
|
62.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
99 days
|
115 days
|
|
Land Area
|
52,419 sq mi
|
32,020 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
95.8 per sq mi
|
159.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 14, 1819 (#22)
|
May 23, 1788 (#8)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
15
shown
Saving Money
Alabama is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 88.6 vs 96.3 in South Carolina. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
South Carolina is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.820/gal in South Carolina vs $3.840/gal in Alabama. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
South Carolina has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.41 c/kWh in South Carolina vs 16.06 c/kWh in Alabama. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alabama is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.18x in Alabama vs 3.85x in South Carolina. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alabama is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.2% in Alabama vs 20.9% in South Carolina. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Alabama has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.38% in Alabama vs 0.48% in South Carolina. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
South Carolina has a larger population than Alabama by 94,146 people.
Population Density
South Carolina is more densely populated than Alabama.
Bachelor's Degree
South Carolina has a higher college-educated share than Alabama.
Advanced Degree
South Carolina has a higher advanced-degree share than Alabama.
People Also Ask
Alabama vs South Carolina - Common Questions
Q Is Alabama cheaper to live in than South Carolina?
Alabama has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alabama scores 88.6 versus 96.3 for South Carolina - a gap of 7.7 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alabama or South Carolina?
$100 goes further in Alabama. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $114.62 in Alabama, compared with $109.57 in South Carolina.
Q Which state is bigger - Alabama or South Carolina?
Alabama is larger, covering 52,419 sq mi compared with 32,020 sq mi for South Carolina - roughly 1.6x the size.
Q Does Alabama or South Carolina have more people?
South Carolina has the larger population at 5,118,425, compared with 5,024,279 in Alabama.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alabama or South Carolina?
South Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,623, versus $54,943 in Alabama.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alabama or South Carolina?
Alabama has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 6.50% in South Carolina.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alabama or South Carolina?
Homes are cheaper in Alabama, where the median home value is $174,600, versus $245,200 in South Carolina.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alabama or South Carolina?
South Carolina is more densely populated at 159.9 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alabama is more spread out at 95.8 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.