Isle of Palms, SC vs Highland Beach, FL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Highland Beach, FL has a modeled overall cost index 27.2% higher than Isle of Palms, SC.

Isle of Palms, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$2,680 / month
Highland Beach, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$2,870 / 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 Isle of Palms, SC and Highland Beach, FL 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,092/month in Highland Beach, FL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $175,102 in Highland Beach, FL

Regional cost estimates: Isle of Palms, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Highland Beach, FL uses Hialeah, FL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 27.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,092
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$25.1K
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.

Isle of Palms, SC

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

Highland Beach, FL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
101.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$655K

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Isle of Palms, SC

The Palmetto State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Highland Beach, FL

The Sunshine State

4K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

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

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Isle of Palms, SC vs Highland Beach, FL

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
↑ 53.6%
Isle of Palms, SC
$2,119
Highland Beach, FL
$3,256
Difference
$1,136
more
Other
↑ 25.1%
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,713
Highland Beach, FL
$2,144
Difference
$431
more
Transportation
↑ 27.0%
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,282
Highland Beach, FL
$1,628
Difference
$346
more
Groceries
↑ 15.0%
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,101
Highland Beach, FL
$1,266
Difference
$165
more
All Utilities
↑ 2.2%
Isle of Palms, SC
$596
Highland Beach, FL
$609
Difference
$13.13
more
Healthcare
↑ 0.1%
Isle of Palms, SC
$690
Highland Beach, FL
$690
Difference
$0.67
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,330
To$2,280
↓ $50.00
1 Bed
From$2,440
To$2,420
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$2,680
To$2,870
↑ $190
3 Bed
From$3,330
To$3,720
↑ $390
Isle of Palms, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,440–$2,440/mo

Highland Beach, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,420–$2,420/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 Isle of Palms, SC
$9,592
Monthly in Highland Beach, FL
$2,092
Difference

Home Values

Isle of Palms
Highland Beach
$1.58M
Median Value
$655K
↑ +1.6%
YoY Change
↓ -3.3%
↑ +85.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +43.3%

Homes in Highland Beach are 58% less expensive than Isle of Palms

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $10.0K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$830
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
6.6%
Rate difference

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

Highland Beach, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Isle of Palms, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Highland Beach, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Isle of Palms
Highland Beach
46 Good
Air Quality
48 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
59.8%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days

Before moving from Isle of Palms, SC to Highland Beach, FL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Highland Beach, FL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Isle of Palms, 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 Isle of Palms to Highland Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Highland Beach, FL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Isle of Palms, SC vs Highland Beach, FL

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

Highland Beach, FL has a modeled overall cost index 27.2% higher than Isle of Palms, 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 Isle of Palms, SC, the model estimates $175,102 in Highland Beach, FL. 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 Isle of Palms, SC and Highland Beach, FL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,680/month in Isle of Palms, SC and $2,870/month in Highland Beach, FL. 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 South Carolina and Florida on TaxTakeHome.com

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