Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Richland County, SC would need to be about $44,500 in Hampton County, SC, or $5,500 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Richland County, SC vs Hampton County, SC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hampton County, SC is cheaper than Richland County, SC.
Moving to Hampton County, SC is estimated to save $5,530 per year.
Cheaper County
Hampton County, SCSave about $5,530 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Richland County, SC is about $44,500 in Hampton County, SC.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,775 per year. Housing saves $4,692 per year.
Housing: $4,692 lower in Hampton County, SC
Taxes: $1,481 lower in Hampton County, SC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $145 lower in Hampton County, SC
Food: $404 lower in Hampton County, SC
Transport: $2,775 higher in Hampton County, SC
Richland County, SC→Hampton County, SC
Equivalent salary in Hampton County, SC
$44,500
-11% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Richland County, SC: $84,362
Median Income in Hampton County, SC: $55,914
Living Index in Richland County, SC 59.62%
Living Index in Hampton County, SC 80.06%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Richland County, SC to Hampton County, SC.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Richland County, SC to Hampton County, SC is estimated to save $5,530 per year. A $50,000 salary in Richland County, SC would have similar purchasing power to about $44,500 in Hampton County, SC. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -11% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $4,692 per year lower (-35.68%); Other Costs is $1,582 per year lower (-29.29%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Richland County, SC and Hampton County, SC, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 59.6% of median family income in Richland County, SC and 80.1% in Hampton County, SC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $4,692 per year lower in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hampton County, SC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $404 per year lower in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hampton County, SC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,775 per year higher in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Hampton County, SC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $145 per year lower in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hampton County, SC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,582 per year lower in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hampton County, SC help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Richland County, SC and Hampton County, SC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hampton County, SC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,481 per year lower in Hampton County, SC than in Richland County, SC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hampton County, SC matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Hampton County, SC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hampton County, SC
Annual Increase:
$2,775 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Hampton County, SC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hampton County, SC
Annual Savings:
$4,692 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hampton County, SC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -36% lower | |
| Food | -10% lower | |
| Transport | 23% higher | |
| Healthcare | -3% lower | |
| Other Costs | -29% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -15% lower |
In Hampton County, SC, modeled annual costs are $44,764 compared with $50,294 in Richland County, SC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hampton County, SC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hampton County, SC is not a metropolitan location, while Richland County, SC is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
