Folly Beach, SC vs Isle of Palms, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Isle of Palms, SC has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Folly Beach, SC.

Folly Beach, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$2,530 / month
Isle of Palms, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$2,680 / 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 Folly Beach, SC and Isle of Palms, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $374/month in Isle of Palms, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,491 in Isle of Palms, SC

Regional cost estimates: Folly Beach, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Isle of Palms, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$374
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.5K
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.

Folly Beach, SC

Population:2K
Cost Index:
75.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.06M

Isle of Palms, SC

Population:4K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.58M

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Folly Beach, SC

The Palmetto State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Isle of Palms, SC

The Palmetto State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Folly Beach, SC vs Isle of Palms, 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.

Housing
↑ 6.0%
Folly Beach, SC
$2,100
Isle of Palms, SC
$2,225
Difference
$125
more
Other
↑ 6.0%
Folly Beach, SC
$1,697
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,799
Difference
$101
more
Transportation
↑ 6.0%
Folly Beach, SC
$1,270
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,345
Difference
$75.84
more
Groceries
↑ 2.9%
Folly Beach, SC
$1,123
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,156
Difference
$33.04
more
Healthcare
↑ 2.9%
Folly Beach, SC
$703
Isle of Palms, SC
$724
Difference
$20.70
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.9%
Folly Beach, SC
$607
Isle of Palms, SC
$625
Difference
$17.88
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,200
To$2,330
↑ $130
1 Bed
From$2,310
To$2,440
↑ $130
2 Bed
From$2,530
To$2,680
↑ $150
3 Bed
From$3,150
To$3,330
↑ $180
Folly Beach, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,310–$2,310/mo

Isle of Palms, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,440–$2,440/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 Folly Beach, SC
$7,874
Monthly in Isle of Palms, SC
$374
Difference

Home Values

Folly Beach
Isle of Palms
$1.06M
Median Value
$1.58M
↓ -4.5%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +60.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +85.2%

Homes in Isle of Palms are 49% more expensive than Folly Beach

Calculate payment - Folly BeachCalculate payment - Isle of Palms

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Folly Beach, 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

Isle of Palms, 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

Folly Beach, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Isle of Palms, 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

Folly Beach
Isle of Palms
46 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
63.7%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
89 Moderate
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌀🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Folly Beach, SC to Isle of Palms, SC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Isle of Palms, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Folly Beach, SC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Folly Beach to Isle of Palms moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Folly Beach, SC vs Isle of Palms, SC

How do the cost estimates for Folly Beach, SC and Isle of Palms, SC compare?

Isle of Palms, SC has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Folly Beach, SC. 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 Folly Beach, SC, the model estimates $154,491 in Isle of Palms, 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 Folly Beach, SC and Isle of Palms, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,530/month in Folly Beach, SC and $2,680/month in Isle of Palms, 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.

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