Average Utility Costs in South Carolina
Typical monthly utility costs in South Carolina are about $266.63/mo, based on 1,000 kWh of electricity and 5,000 gallons of water (plus sewer and trash where available). Compare South Carolina cities below to find cheaper vs more expensive areas.
Electric: Charleston uses Dominion Energy South Carolina. Water and sewer from Charleston Water System. Garbage/trash via City of Charleston Environmental Services.
Average Monthly Utility Costs in South Carolina
The average utility bill in South Carolina is estimated at $266.63 per month, a typical total assembled from median city estimates for electricity, water, sewer, and trash. To reflect a more typical bill across cities (and reduce the impact of outliers), these "average" values use the median of city estimates.
Assumptions: 1,000 kWh/month and 5,000 gallons/month (where applicable). "Average" values represent the median city estimate; water/sewer/trash medians exclude $0 entries when service or published rates vary by address. Actual bills vary by usage, fees, and provider.
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Utility providers in South Carolina
In the cities we cover, electric is provided by Appalachian Power (AEP) (Roanoke, Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg); City of Columbia Water & Light (Columbia); City of Rock Hill Utilities (Rock Hill); Dominion Energy South Carolina (Charleston, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Summerville); Duke Energy Carolinas (Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Winston Salem) Dominion Energy, Charleston Water System, and municipal rates from official sources. Water, sewer, and trash are set by city, county, or regional providers. Our estimates use each utility's published rate at 1,000 kWh. City pages show sources and last-verified dates.
See which electric, water, sewer, and trash providers serve different areas of South Carolina, along with typical residential rate information and sources.
View utility providers in South Carolina →These rankings are estimates for comparison at 1,000 kWh. For the full breakdown (electric, water, sewer, trash) by city, use the comparison table below.
Cheapest electric rates in South Carolina
Top 5 cities with the lowest estimated electric bill at 1,000 kWh. See the comparison table below for all cities.
Most expensive total utility monthly cost in South Carolina
Top 5 cities with the highest estimated total (electric + water + sewer + trash). See the comparison table for all cities.
Compare all cities
Estimated monthly costs by city, sorted by total (highest first). Same assumed usage (1,000 kWh, 5,000 gal) for comparison; some cities may show $0 when no single published municipal rate is available or service varies by address. 6 cities.
| City | County | Electric | Water | Sewer | Trash | Total | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant | Charleston County | $164.32 | $45.55 | $70.25 | $0.00 | $280.12 | View Mount Pleasant details → |
| Charleston | Charleston County | $164.32 | $27.49 | $85.43 | $0.00 | $277.24 | View Charleston details → |
| Columbia | Richland County | $164.32 | $22.91 | $44.08 | $35.00 | $266.31 | View Columbia details → |
| Greenville | Greenville County | $136.34 | $15.62 | $62.96 | $17.50 | $232.42 | View Greenville details → |
| Rock Hill | York County | $131.38 | $22.86 | $51.00 | $27.00 | $232.24 | View Rock Hill details → |
| Summerville | Dorchester County | $164.32 | $23.25 | $27.50 | $15.00 | $230.07 | View Summerville details → |
Compare with nearby states
Compare utility costs in South Carolina with neighboring states.
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