Helena, AL vs Port Royal, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Port Royal, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than Helena, AL.

Helena, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,780 / month
Port Royal, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,670 / 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 Helena, AL and Port Royal, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $112/month in Port Royal, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,658 in Port Royal, SC

Regional cost estimates: Helena, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Port Royal, SC uses Jacksonville, FL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 3.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$112
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.3K
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.

Helena, AL

Population:22K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$331K

Port Royal, SC

Population:16K
Cost Index:
80.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$344K

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Helena, AL

The Heart of Dixie

22K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Port Royal, SC

The Palmetto State

16K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 16K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Helena, AL vs Port Royal, 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.

Other
↓ 7.7%
Helena, AL
$1,796
Port Royal, SC
$1,657
Difference
$139
less
Transportation
↓ 4.5%
Helena, AL
$1,372
Port Royal, SC
$1,310
Difference
$61.78
less
Housing
↑ 2.7%
Helena, AL
$1,975
Port Royal, SC
$2,029
Difference
$53.16
more
Healthcare
↑ 4.8%
Helena, AL
$602
Port Royal, SC
$630
Difference
$28.90
more
Groceries
↑ 0.5%
Helena, AL
$1,122
Port Royal, SC
$1,127
Difference
$5.18
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.3%
Helena, AL
$633
Port Royal, SC
$635
Difference
$1.79
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,440
To$1,450
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$1,620
To$1,520
↓ $100
2 Bed
From$1,780
To$1,670
↓ $110
3 Bed
From$2,230
To$2,000
↓ $230
Helena, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,620–$1,620/mo

Port Royal, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,520–$1,520/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 Helena, AL
$7,388
Monthly in Port Royal, SC
$112
Difference

Home Values

Helena
Port Royal
$331K
Median Value
$344K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +2.7%
↑ +28.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +61.6%

Homes in Port Royal are 4% more expensive than Helena

Calculate payment - HelenaCalculate payment - Port Royal

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$208
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Helena, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Port Royal, 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

Helena, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Port Royal, 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

Helena
Port Royal
57 Moderate
Air Quality
50 Good
26%
Good Air Days
51.9%
98 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Helena, AL to Port Royal, 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 Port Royal, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Helena, AL. 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 Helena to Port Royal moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Helena, AL vs Port Royal, SC

How do the cost estimates for Helena, AL and Port Royal, SC compare?

Port Royal, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than Helena, AL. 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 Helena, AL, the model estimates $148,658 in Port Royal, 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 Helena, AL and Port Royal, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,780/month in Helena, AL and $1,670/month in Port Royal, 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 Alabama and South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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