Essentials
- City
- Charleston, South Carolina, United States
- Population
- Approximately 155,000 (City), 830,000 (Metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps; Fiber available via AT&T and Google Fiber in select areas.
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SouthState Bank.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe; meets all EPA standards.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets.
- SIM Card
- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile. Prepaid plans from $40/month for 15GB.
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wise (formerly TransferWise), Revolut (Limited US features).
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Zillow, furnished housing via Landing or Blueground.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple/Google) are accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO; Strict regulations in the Historic District require 30+ day stays for most.
- Budget Accommodation
- Not Charleston's forte; NotSo Hostel (approx. $45/dorm, $110/private).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historic District (French Quarter and South of Broad) for walkability and charm.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Upper King Street for nightlife/coworking, or Mount Pleasant (Old Village) for a quieter coastal vibe.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Industrious (677 King St) - ~$450/mo for hot desk; Local Works (1630 Meeting St) - ~$250/mo.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Bitty & Beau's Coffee (93 Cannon St) or Mercato (102 N Market St); Highfalutin Coffee Roasters (West Ashley).
- Networking Events
- Charleston Digital Corridor (CDC) host 'TECH AFTER FIVE' events.
- Social Events for Expats
- Charleston International Social Group (Meetup) and Internations Charleston.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft are dominant and highly reliable.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Holy Spokes (Bike share) - $8/hour; Coastal Expansions in Mount Pleasant for e-bikes.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Sullivan's Island (15 mins) for a local feel; Folly Beach (20 mins) for surf vibes.
- Top Regional Airline
- Silver Airways and Breeze Airways (hub at CHS).
- Top International Airline
- No direct long-haul; connections via Delta/United through ATL or IAD.
- Highway Access
- I-26 (connector to the interior) and US-17 (coastal highway).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Amtrak North Charleston Station (4565 Gaynor Ave).
- Public Transport Passes
- CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) - $5 Day Pass.
- Regional Travel
- Greyhound (Bus) or Amtrak (Train) to Savannah, GA or Charlotte, NC.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- MUSC Health - University Medical Center (171 Ashley Ave).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Studio (CofC area); Urban Yoga (Upper King). Classes ~$25.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- O2 Fitness (Multiple locations) - ~$60/mo; Pivotal Fitness (Downtown).
- Laundry Services
- Laundry Matters (Upper King) - wash/dry/fold services around $1.50/lb.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Shrimp and Grits at 82 Queen or She-Crab Soup.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Gnome Café (Downtown) and Neon Tiger (100% plant-based).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Carmella’s Dessert Bar on East Bay St; Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Harris Teeter (for sales), ALDI (West Ashley/Mt Pleasant).
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/Next-day delivery available).
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Shipt, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Upper King Street (uptown vibes) and Shem Creek (waterfront bars).
- Local Brewery
- Edmund's Oast Brewing Co. or Revelry Brewing (Rooftop bar).
- Wine Bars
- Bin 152 in the French Quarter; Graft Wine Shop (Uptown).
- Street Food Stalls
- Charleston City Market (Food hall section); various food trucks at breweries.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Xiao Bao Biscuit (Asian Fusion), Indaco (Italian), CO (Vietnamese).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Battery and White Point Garden; Rainbow Row on East Bay St.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Gibbes Museum of Art ($15); International African American Museum ($22).
- Historical Sites
- Fort Sumter National Monument; Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
- Religious Sites
- St. Michael's Church (Est. 1751); Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Reform Judaism).
- Annual Events
- Spoleto Festival USA (May/June arts festival); Charleston Wine + Food (March).
- Cultural Districts
- The French Quarter (Galleries and theaters).
- Theater Venues
- Dock Street Theatre (America's first theater site); Gaillard Center.
- Local Markets
- Charleston Farmers Market (Marion Square, Saturdays).
- Music Scene
- The Windjammer (Folly Beach); Music Farm (Downtown).
- Street Art
- Mural at 174 Meeting Street (The Shepard Fairey murals).
- Cooking Classes
- Charleston Cooks! (West Ashley) - Boutique classes ~$75.
- Art Galleries
- Meyer Vogl Gallery; Robert Lange Studios.
- Historic Buildings
- Nathaniel Russell House; Aiken-Rhett House.
- Local Heritage
- Gullah-Geechee culture, represented in sweetgrass basket weaving at the Market.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- James Island County Park; Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- National Parks Nearby
- Congaree National Park (approx. 1.5 hours inland).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (Wonders' Way lane); West Ashley Greenway.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park (Pineapple Fountain); Pitt Street Bridge.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Center for Birds of Prey (Awendaw, SC).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Folly Beach (Requires permit and strictly designated seasons).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office Ship Center (King St), UPS Store (Meeting St).
- Tech Repair Services
- iPhone Repair Charleston (Meeting St); Computer Source (Mt Pleasant).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Bangkok Lounge (Upper King) occasionally hosts; Parks & Rec centers.
- Language Classes
- The Language South (ESL and Spanish classes).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Charleston County Public Library - Main Branch (68 Calhoun St).
- Community Centers
- Arthur W. Christopher Community Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- The Alley (Arcade and Bowling); Pinky and Clyde's Arcade Bar.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No land-based casinos (Illegal in SC); Big 'M' Casino boat departs from nearby Little River (3 hours away).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,700 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $388,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $510,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $252,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $640,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $3,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $312,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 5% (South Carolina State) + 21% (Federal).
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 0-30% depending on tax treaties for foreigners.
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; Federal and State level.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 7% (South Carolina State).
- VAT
- No VAT; Sales tax is 9% in Charleston County.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Subpart F and GILTI rules apply for US taxpayers.
- Property Tax
- Yes, primary residences at 4% assessment; secondary/rentals at 6%.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed recording fee approx. $3.70 per $1,000 of value.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No special nomad visa; normal US tax rules apply; SC offers job development credits for businesses.