Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
A $2,000,000 home here costs
$14,627per 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 $627,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $11,078. The real number is $3,549 higher every month, 32% 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 Sullivan's Island from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,127 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.
Sullivan's Island against Charleston County and South Carolina
| Measure | Sullivan's Island | Charleston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $2,000,000+ | $450,800 |
| Median property tax | $7,885 | $1,864 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.413% | 0.413% |
| Median gross rent | $2,402 | $1,506 |
| Population | 2,127 | 414,711 |
The weather behind that power bill
Sullivan's 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 Sullivan's 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 Sullivan's Island every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Sullivan's Island I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Sullivan's Island?
A $2,000,000 home in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina costs approximately $14,627 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $11,078 principal and interest, $688 property tax, $963 homeowners insurance, $230 utilities and $1,667 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Sullivan's Island?
Place-level tax data is not published for Sullivan's Island, so the Charleston County rate of 0.413% applies here.
What is the average home price in Sullivan's Island?
The median owner-occupied home value in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina is above $2 million (the Census reporting cap), against $450,800 across Charleston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sullivan's Island?
Median gross rent in Sullivan's Island is $2,402 a month, against $14,627 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 Sullivan's Island?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $627,000 a year. That covers the full $14,627 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Sullivan's 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.