Clarkston, GA vs Irmo, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Irmo, SC has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% lower than Clarkston, GA.

Clarkston, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,580 / month
Irmo, SC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,730 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Clarkston, GA and Irmo, SC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Clarkston, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $794/month in Irmo, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $140,467 in Irmo, SC

Regional cost estimates: Clarkston, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Irmo, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$794

Savings

Annual Impact

$9.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Clarkston, GA

Population:14K

Cost Index:

97.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$245K

Irmo, SC

Population:12K

Cost Index:

85.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$272K

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Clarkston, GA

The Peach State

14K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Irmo, SC

The Palmetto State

12K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Clarkston, GA vs Irmo, SC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Clarkston, GA	Irmo, SC	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,365/mo	$1,087/mo	↓ $278less	20.3%
Other	$1,815/mo	$1,545/mo	↓ $270less	14.9%
Housing	$2,227/mo	$2,010/mo	↓ $217less	9.7%
All Utilities	$574/mo	$499/mo	↓ $74.76less	13.0%
Healthcare	$578/mo	$613/mo	↑ $35.84more	6.2%
Groceries	$941/mo	$951/mo	↑ $9.57more	1.0%

Transportation

↓ 20.3%

Clarkston, GA

$1,365

Irmo, SC

$1,087

Difference

$278

less

Other

↓ 14.9%

Clarkston, GA

$1,815

Irmo, SC

$1,545

Difference

$270

less

Housing

↓ 9.7%

Clarkston, GA

$2,227

Irmo, SC

$2,010

Difference

$217

less

All Utilities

↓ 13.0%

Clarkston, GA

$574

Irmo, SC

$499

Difference

$74.76

less

Healthcare

↑ 6.2%

Clarkston, GA

$578

Irmo, SC

$613

Difference

$35.84

Groceries

↑ 1.0%

Clarkston, GA

$941

Irmo, SC

$951

Difference

$9.57

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,380

To$1,400

↑ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,440

To$1,580

↑ $140

2 Bed

From$1,580

To$1,730

↑ $150

3 Bed

From$1,890

To$2,200

↑ $310

Clarkston, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,440–$1,440/mo

Irmo, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,580–$1,580/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Clarkston, GA

$6,706

Monthly in Irmo, SC

$794

Difference

Home Values

Clarkston

Irmo

$245K

Median Value

$272K

↓ -5.5%

YoY Change

↑ +1.2%

↑ +36.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.8%

Homes in Irmo are 11% more expensive than Clarkston

Calculate payment - Clarkston Calculate payment - Irmo

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.5K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$125

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.0%

Rate difference

Clarkston, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

Irmo, SC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

South Carolina State Tax

Effective: 6.6%

$10.0K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.3%

$47.0K

Take-Home Pay

$8,586/month

$103.0K

Additional Tax Information

Clarkston, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

Irmo, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Clarkston

Irmo

50 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

50.8%

Good Air Days

46.2%

96 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Clarkston, GA to Irmo, SC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Irmo, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Clarkston, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Clarkston to Irmo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Irmo, SC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Clarkston, GA vs Irmo, SC

How do the cost estimates for Clarkston, GA and Irmo, SC compare?

Irmo, SC has a modeled overall cost index 12.2% lower than Clarkston, GA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Clarkston, GA, the model estimates $140,467 in Irmo, SC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Clarkston, GA and Irmo, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,580/month in Clarkston, GA and $1,730/month in Irmo, SC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Georgia and South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com