The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Charleston, SC for 2023

Charleston is a charming port city located in South Carolina. The city is known for its historic buildings and cobblestone streets. It has an estimated population of 408,000, and around 17% of residents are aged 65 and over. With its warm weather and retiree-friendly tax policies, Charleston is a popular city for retirees from all over the country. Active seniors may appreciate the variety of outdoor activities and entertainment options.

Assisted living is best suited to seniors who require some help in completing the tasks of daily living such as grooming, driving, housekeeping and bathing. These facilities provide 24/7 caregiver support to seniors so they can remain as independent as possible. Seniors in the Charleston area pay an average of $3,945 per month for assisted living care, which is higher than the South Carolina average of $3,612.

This guide provides a basic overview of assisted living in Charleston. It includes a list of drawbacks and benefits of retiring in the city, average costs involved and free resources that are available to support seniors.

In Charleston and across the state of South Carolina, The Bureau of Health Facility Licensing regulates and issues licenses to assisted living facilities. The bureau ensures that all assisted living facilities in the state comply with the required rules and regulations. It carries out regular planned and unplanned inspections at all facilities. 

• The warm climate of Charleston is ideal for seniors who enjoy outdoor activities. The city receives no snow and has an average winter low temperature of 39. Summer months are warm with an average high of 90. Charleston enjoys around 209 days of sunshine each, but it can be humid due to the high rainfall in the area. Seniors will need to budget for cooling expenses in the warmer months. 
• The cost of living in Charleston is around 4% higher than the national average. Seniors who are worried about budgeting for each month can rest assured that living in an assisted living community means that most of their costs are fixed.
• South Carolina is tax-friendly towards retirees. The state does not charge tax on Social Security retirement benefit income and provides a sizable tax income deduction on any other forms of retirement income. South Carolina has some of the lowest property taxes in the country. This all means that seniors have more income available to enjoy all the activities in Charleston.
• Seniors have easy access to a number of excellent medical facilities in Charleston. Some of the top hospitals in the city include MUSC Health -University Medical Center and Roper Hospital. 
• Charleston has a high crime rate and is ranked as safer than just 16% of U.S. cities. The city has a very high rate of property crime. Seniors who are worried about crime can feel safe knowing that most assisted living communities offer 24/7 security services and secure gated access for the safety of residents. 
• Seniors living in Charleston can take advantage of miles of scenic coastline to explore, a vibrant cultural scene, a number of golf courses and tours of the city to learn about its interesting past.

According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Charleston is $3,945. This is less than the national median of $4,500 and more than the South Carolina state average of $3,612. 

At $3,945 per month, Charleston is one of the more expensive cities for assisted living in the state. The least expensive option is Sumter, which has a monthly average cost of $2,663. At the upper end of the cost scale, Hilton Island has an average monthly cost of $4,500, and the average senior in the coastal city of Myrtle Beach pays $4,070 for assisted living.

When it comes to assisted living, Greenville is fairly close in price to Spartanburg, though the latter is slightly cheaper, with an average cost of $3,600. Other cities in South Carolina offer rates that are lower still. The median rate in Columbia is $3,270, and in Florence, it is $3,456. Sumter’s prices are particularly low, averaging $2,663 per month.

Seniors living in Charleston have a choice of senior care options besides assisted living. Adult day care is the lowest cost option with an average monthly fee of $1,381. Home care and home health care both have a monthly median cost of $5,005. Nursing home care is best suited to frail seniors who require around-the-clock medical care and supervision. A semiprivate room in a nursing home has a monthly average cost of $7,513, and the corresponding cost for a private room is $8,512. 

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in South Carolina page