Cost to Own
United StatesSouth CarolinaBeaufort CountyBeaufort Population 13,660 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Beaufort, South Carolina

A $310,000 home here costs

$2,353

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,594. The real number is $759 higher every month — 48% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Beaufort median: $310,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $248,000 borrowed $1,594
Property tax0.533% effective rate for Beaufort itself $138
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $149
Electricity16.18¢/kWh — South Carolina residential average, EIA $145
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $258
Total monthly $2,353

Beaufort against Beaufort County and South Carolina

MeasureBeaufortBeaufort County
Median home value$310,400$407,600
Median property tax$1,653$2,022
Effective tax rate0.533%0.496%
Median gross rent$1,061$1,484
Population13,660192,123

The weather behind that power bill

Beaufort sits in Beaufort County, which averages a high of 91.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.1°F in its coldest, with 45.02" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,570 cooling and 1,732 heating degree days, which is what sets the $145 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Beaufort County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Beaufort County

Full Beaufort County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Beaufort?

A $310,000 home in Beaufort, South Carolina costs approximately $2,353 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,594 principal and interest, $138 property tax, $149 homeowners insurance, $213 utilities and $258 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Beaufort?

Beaufort has an effective property tax rate of 0.533%, based on a median home value of $310,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,653. That is higher than the Beaufort County average of 0.496%.

What is the average home price in Beaufort?

The median owner-occupied home value in Beaufort, South Carolina is $310,400, against $407,600 across Beaufort County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Beaufort?

Median gross rent in Beaufort is $1,061 a month, against $2,353 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Beaufort — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for South Carolina.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology