Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina
A $1,723,000 home here costs
$12,772per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $547,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $9,544. The real number is $3,228 higher every month, 34% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Charleston County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kiawah Island from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,196 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Charleston County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Kiawah Island against Charleston County and South Carolina
| Measure | Kiawah Island | Charleston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,723,200 | $450,800 |
| Median property tax | $8,796 | $1,864 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.510% | 0.413% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,506 |
| Population | 2,196 | 414,711 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kiawah Island sits in Charleston County, which averages a high of 87.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 43.6°F in its coldest, with 44.26" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,448 cooling and 1,623 heating degree days, which is what sets the $162 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Charleston County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Charleston County
Full Charleston County cost breakdown · Every county in South Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kiawah Island averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Kiawah Island every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Kiawah Island I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kiawah Island?
A $1,723,000 home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina costs approximately $12,772 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $9,544 principal and interest, $732 property tax, $830 homeowners insurance, $230 utilities and $1,436 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kiawah Island?
Kiawah Island has an effective property tax rate of 0.510%, based on a median home value of $1,723,200 and median real estate taxes of $8,796. That is higher than the Charleston County average of 0.413%.
What is the average home price in Kiawah Island?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kiawah Island, South Carolina is $1,723,200, against $450,800 across Charleston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kiawah Island?
Rent data is not published for Kiawah Island at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Kiawah Island?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $547,500 a year. That covers the full $12,772 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kiawah Island, 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.