Cost of Living in Daniel Island
Daniel Island runs genuinely expensive across nearly every measure -- the most expensive market in this six-market Lowcountry batch -- though a comparatively low effective property tax rate and above-average income partly offset that.
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Learn moreThe most expensive housing in this batch, by a wide margin
A $1,624,435 median sale price (June 2026, Redfin), up 8.3% year over year, sits well above every other market in this six-market Lowcountry batch -- the single largest driver of Daniel Island's overall cost premium.
A high median household income, but a genuinely wide affordability gap for new buyers
Median household income is a real $134,038, with roughly 93.4% of residents living above the poverty line -- but that income level still implies a genuinely high home-price-to-income ratio given the $1.6M+ median sale price, a real affordability barrier for buyers without existing substantial equity.
A comparatively low effective property tax rate, but a high dollar-amount bill
Daniel Island's effective property tax rate is a comparatively low 0.46% (below the SC state median of 0.66%), but the median annual bill still runs a real $6,142/year given the island's high home values -- higher in dollar terms than Goose Creek's or Moncks Corner's bills elsewhere in this batch despite the lower percentage rate.
South Carolina's real two-bracket income tax, restated at the local level
South Carolina's income tax is genuinely two-bracket and graduated (1.99% under $30,000 taxable income, 5.21% above, per Act 110 signed March 30, 2026) -- a statewide fact, not Daniel Island-specific.
Key takeaways
- Housing is the dominant cost driver and the most expensive in this entire batch: $1,624,435 median sale price, June 2026.
- Median household income ($134,038) runs well above the state average, but the price-to-income ratio remains genuinely steep for new buyers.
- Effective property tax rate (0.46%) is comparatively low, but the median dollar-amount bill ($6,142/yr) runs higher than several other markets in this batch given high home values.
- South Carolina's real, two-bracket 1.99%/5.21% income tax (2026) applies statewide.
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