Overall
98.0
-2.0 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
Cost-of-living indicators for Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 98.0
- Overall RPP
- #114
- of 387 metros
- 101.2
- Rents RPP
- $102K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Hilton Head Island costs less than 29% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 98.0, 2.0% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 88.1.
- 98.0
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #114
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 71%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 101.2
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $102,023 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $98,017.
What the Numbers Mean for Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island ranks #114 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 98.0, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is 2.0% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Hilton Head Island's most and least expensive categories — rents at 101.2 versus services at 88.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $102,023 inside Hilton Head Island, while a household needs roughly $98,017 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 101.2 — 1.2% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Hilton Head Island's overall index has risen by 2.9 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.3 and services at 88.1, meaning everyday spending in Hilton Head Island is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Hilton Head Island vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
98 Top 29% higher than 71% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Hilton Head Island cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
101.2 RPP
- Services
Services
88.1 RPP
- Overall
Overall
98 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.3 RPP
What this shows Hilton Head Island's gap from the national average is led by services at 88.1. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Hilton Head Island's cost comes from
Metros near Hilton Head Island's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.4, rents 101.2). Hilton Head Island is more housing-led than its peers — its rents run higher than its goods. These metros sit near Hilton Head Island's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.3
-3.7 below avg
Services
88.1
-11.9 below avg
Rents
101.2
+1.2 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$98,017
in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,009
$75,000 nationally
$73,513
$125,000 nationally
$122,521
$150,000 nationally
$147,026
$200,000 nationally
$196,034
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 2.9 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 92.6 |
| 2010 | 95.9 |
| 2011 | 93.0 |
| 2012 | 93.6 |
| 2013 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 96.0 |
| 2017 | 92.0 |
| 2018 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | 93.6 |
| 2021 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 99.3 |
| 2023 | 96.0 |
| 2024 | 98.0 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC's index of 98.0.
Other SC Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC? ▼
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 98.0, meaning it is 2.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.3, services at 88.1, and rents at 101.2. It ranks #114 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $98,017 in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC. Conversely, $100K earned in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC has the purchasing power of $102,023 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC? ▼
Rents in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC are indexed at 101.2, which is 1.2% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC's overall cost index changed by +2.9 points (from 95.1 to 98.0). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC? ▼
The most expensive category in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC is rents at 101.2, which is 1.2% above the national average. The most affordable category is services at 88.1, 11.9% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Carson City. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC's 98.0.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
