Florence Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Florence to Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 86.8 to 98.0 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $718/mo.

+$2,063
BLS median salary higher in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
439 to 439
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.3:1 to 14.3:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$0
DOL infant care higher / yr in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 86.8 → 98.0
Rent Delta: +$718/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $2K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 11% higher cost of living
  • - $718/mo more expensive rent (2BR)

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 86.8 to 98.0, so the same paycheck buys less in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal (ratio 1.13). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $718/mo ($8,616/yr) from $1,098 in Florence to $1,816 in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (1 destination wins · 2 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal sits #183 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Florence is #6/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $2,063 higher ($60,956 → $63,019). Labor-market size: 82,440 tracked jobs at origin vs 77,390 at destination.

Both metros sit in South Carolina: state retirement score 80 (A, #3/51) - tax posture does not change with this move. Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Florence
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 86.8
RPP 98.0
Florence
Rent (2BR)
$1,098/mo
$1,816/mo
Florence
Wages
$60,956
$63,019
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Crime
439 per 100K
439 per 100K
Tie
Schools
14.3:1
14.3:1
Tie
Childcare
$7,732/yr
$7,732/yr
Tie
Environment
720 violations
720 violations
Tie

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · South Carolina
80 A #3/51
Income tax
85
Property tax
87
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
56

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Florence to see what you'd need to earn in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026