Property taxes
Property taxes in South Carolina
South Carolina's effective property-tax rate is about 0.438%of a home's value per year, lower than the U.S. average of 0.888% — the 46th highest of the 50 states. Here's what that costs at different prices, how the tax works, and where to save.
How much are property taxes in South Carolina?
At 0.438%, here's the estimated annual and monthly property tax by home price in South Carolina:
| Home price | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $876 | $73 |
| $300,000 | $1,314 | $110 |
| $400,000 | $1,752 | $146 |
| $500,000 | $2,190 | $183 |
| $750,000 | $3,285 | $274 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,380 | $365 |
Effective property-tax rate by state (2024 ACS) — your county or municipality may differ; confirm locally. Source: Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09.
What 0.438% means for your monthly payment
On the $400,000 example home, South Carolina's rate works out to $146 a month — about 5% of the $2,783 total monthly payment. Lenders count that against your income, so it directly limits the price you qualify for.
Against the U.S. average of 0.888%, that is $1,800 less per year than the typical state — $150 a month less in escrow, every year you own the home.
Illustrative — a $400,000 single-family home, 10% down, conventional loan, good credit, at an assumed 6.75% rate. Your real figures come from your Loan Estimate. Effective property-tax rate by state (2024 ACS) — your county or municipality may differ; confirm locally. Source: Construction Coverage 'Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest?' (2026 ed.), US Census 2024 ACS effective owner-occupied rate; pub. 2026-02-09.
How the tax is assessed and collected, and the exemptions and appeals that can lower it, work much the same wherever you buy — how property tax is collected, and ways to lower it.
Factor South Carolina taxes into what you can afford
Property taxes are part of the monthly payment lenders measure against your income, so a higher rate lowers the price you qualify for. See your real numbers:
See your real numbers for South Carolina
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