Cost to Own
United States › South Carolina › Beaufort County › Port Royal Population 15,047 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Port Royal FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Beaufort County Relatively High, with hurricane its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Port Royal, South Carolina

A $298,000 home here costs

$2,418

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $103,500 a year.

P&I 67%Tax 7%Insurance 6%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,625. The real number is $793 higher every month, 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Beaufort County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Port Royal median: $298,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
SC 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, $238,400 borrowed $1,625
Property tax0.675% effective rate for Port Royal itself $168
Homeowners insuranceSouth Carolina averages $1,432/yr (NAIC), or 0.578% of home value $144
Electricity15.76ยข/kWh, South Carolina residential average, EIA $165
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $248
Total monthly $2,418

Port Royal against Beaufort County and South Carolina

MeasurePort RoyalBeaufort County
Median home value$298,000$407,600
Median property tax$2,011$2,022
Effective tax rate0.675%0.496%
Median gross rent$1,606$1,484
Population15,047192,123

The weather behind that power bill

Port Royal 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 $165 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

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Port Royal 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 Port Royal every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Port Royal I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Port Royal?

A $298,000 home in Port Royal, South Carolina costs approximately $2,418 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,625 principal and interest, $168 property tax, $144 homeowners insurance, $233 utilities and $248 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Port Royal?

Port Royal has an effective property tax rate of 0.675%, based on a median home value of $298,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,011. That is higher than the Beaufort County average of 0.496%.

What is the average home price in Port Royal?

The median owner-occupied home value in Port Royal, South Carolina is $298,000, against $407,600 across Beaufort County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Port Royal?

Median gross rent in Port Royal is $1,606 a month, against $2,418 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Port Royal?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Port Royal, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $103,500 a year. That covers the full $2,418 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Port Royal, 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