South Carolina homeowners pay an average of $3,100 annually for home insurance, ranking as the 16th most expensive state nationwide. Your actual premium depends on your home's location, age, coverage limits and credit score, with coastal properties facing higher rates due to hurricane exposure.
Average Home Insurance Cost in South Carolina
Updated: September 9, 2026
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Key Takeaways: South Carolina Home Insurance Rates
South Carolina home insurance costs $258 monthly or $3,100 annually, ranking as the sixteenth most expensive state for homeowners coverage.
Determine your coverage needs, research providers and gather multiple quotes to find the best home insurance in South Carolina.
Use MoneyGeek's free home insurance calculator below to estimate your costs in seconds without providing personal information.
How Much Is Home Insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina's average home insurance premium costs $258 monthly or $3,100 annually. This is $31 less per month than the national average, saving residents $367 yearly. The state ranks 16th most expensive nationwide for home insurance coverage.
Use our free South Carolina home insurance calculator to show estimated premiums so you can set a realistic budget before requesting quotes.
| South Carolina | $3,100 | $3,467 | -11% |
*These rates are for a frame construction home built in 2000 with $250,000 dwelling, $125,000 personal property, $200,000 liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible.
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$220
High
$144
Average
$104
Low
Rates updated:
Sep 19, 2026
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What Affects Average South Carolina Home Insurance Costs?
Home insurance costs in South Carolina vary based on where you live, how much coverage you buy, your home's construction materials, which insurer you choose, your credit score and past claims. Let's break down how each of these factors impacts what you'll pay for coverage.
Average South Carolina Home Insurance Cost by City
Most South Carolina cities cost $193 to $270 monthly for homeowners insurance. Myrtle Beach is different at $445 monthly because of direct Atlantic Ocean exposure and tropical storm activity. Columbia residents get the state's lowest rates at $193 monthly because of reduced hurricane and flood risks in the Midlands region.
| Charleston | $305 | $3,665 |
| Columbia | $193 | $2,312 |
| Florence | $226 | $2,708 |
| Ladson | $270 | $3,240 |
| Laurens | $196 | $2,349 |
| Leesville | $194 | $2,332 |
| Myrtle Beach | $445 | $5,341 |
| North Charleston | $299 | $3,593 |
| Sumter | $215 | $2,586 |
Average South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Pricing by Coverage Level
Basic coverage with $100,000 dwelling coverage costs $136 monthly. Comprehensive $1 million dwelling policies cost $908 a month. Standard $250,000 coverage costs an average of $258 monthly.
| $100K Dwelling / $50K Personal Property / $100K Liability | $136 | $1,631 |
| $250K Dwelling / $125K Personal Property / $200K Liability | $258 | $3,100 |
| $500K Dwelling / $250K Personal Property / $300K Liability | $454 | $5,444 |
| $750K Dwelling / $375K Personal Property / $500K Liability | $665 | $7,981 |
| $1MM Dwelling / $500K Personal Property / $1MM Liability | $908 | $10,900 |
Average Cost of South Carolina Home Insurance by Company
Your insurer choice matters in South Carolina. Travelers charges an average of $5,507 annually. Chubb charges $2,047 per year. The most expensive option costs over two times more than the most affordable provider.
| Chubb | $171 | $2,047 |
| State Farm | $172 | $2,064 |
| USAA | $204 | $2,448 |
| Allstate | $205 | $2,455 |
| Foremost Insurance | $227 | $2,727 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $309 | $3,705 |
| Nationwide | $321 | $3,851 |
| Travelers | $459 | $5,507 |
Average South Carolina Home Insurance Cost by Credit Score
Your credit score affects home insurance costs in South Carolina. Insurers see higher credit scores as lower risk and charge less. Annual rates range from $1,473 to $8,313 based on your credit profile.
| Excellent | $123 | $1,473 |
| Good | $258 | $3,100 |
| Below Fair | $377 | $4,523 |
| Poor | $693 | $8,313 |
South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Costs by House Age
Older South Carolina homes cost more to insure because of outdated building materials and systems: $3,229 annually versus $2,075 for newer construction. The $1,154 annual difference is higher repair costs and more damage in aging properties.
| Newer | $173 | $2,075 |
| Middle Age | $258 | $3,100 |
| Older | $269 | $3,229 |
Why Is Home Insurance So Expensive in South Carolina?
South Carolina homeowners pay $3,100 a year for home insurance on average, 11% below the national figure. Coastal communities see higher rates. Insurers price in hurricane and flood exposure along the coastline, plus rising construction costs and frequent claims statewide.
Hurricane and Coastal Storm ExposureSouth Carolina's coastline runs 187 miles, putting millions of homes in hurricane strike zones. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded 16 severe storms and 12 tropical cyclones in the state between 2020 and 2024, with losses estimated at $6 billion to $12 billion. Hurricane season runs from June through November. Peak activity hits in August and September, when warm ocean waters fuel storm development. Horry and Beaufort counties carry the highest wind and storm surge risk among coastal areas, and premiums there run higher than inland rates.
Rising Construction and Material CostsConstruction costs in South Carolina rise every year, which pushes up replacement cost calculations. Lumber and roofing materials cost more, and labor shortages add to repair and rebuild expenses. Insurers raise premiums to cover the higher cost of repairing or replacing damaged homes. Coastal construction carries additional costs for wind-resistant building requirements and saltwater-resistant materials.
Aging Housing Stock and InfrastructureHomes built before 1980 often have outdated electrical systems, plumbing and roofing materials, and that pushes insurance costs higher. These older homes need repairs more often and sustain more severe damage during storms. Insurers charge 35% to 55% more to cover pre-1980 homes than newer homes built to modern wind-resistance and building code standards.
Tips to Save on South Carolina Home Insurance
The state has expensive home insurance, making finding the cheapest home insurance in South Carolina important for your budget.
- 1Calculate Coverage Needs
Find your home's replacement cost. List your belongings to get what personal property coverage you need.
Check for add-ons like scheduled personal property coverage, water backup coverage or increased replacement cost coverage.
- 2Research Costs and Discounts
Use our South Carolina calculator based on your home's specifics. Find out about discounts. Install smoke detectors, security systems and storm shutters to get discounts.
- 3Compare Multiple Providers
Get quotes from at least three insurers.
- 4Bundle Your Policies
Bundle home and auto insurance with one provider. South Carolina bundling discounts vary from 10% to 25%.
- 5Reduce Your Risk Profile
If you have a claim-free record, it saves $494 to $909 annually compared to filing claims. Improving credit reduces premiums by 31%: costs decrease from $4,523 to $3,100 annually.
Calculate South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Costs: FAQ
The FAQs below explain what affects your rates and help you understand potential insurance expenses.
One claim raises a South Carolina homeowner's premium by $494 a year. Two claims raise it by $909 a year. Homeowners with no claims pay $3,100 a year on average, $3,594 after one claim and $4,009 after two. Claims stay on your record for five years, so the higher premium applies for the full five-year period.
Shopping around for home insurance in South Carolina can save you thousands of dollars annually. The cheapest insurer, Chubb, charges $2,047 per year, while the most expensive, Travelers, costs $5,507 annually for comparable coverage.
Mid-range providers show differences too: Allstate costs $2,455 while Foremost Insurance charges $2,727, a $272 annual difference.
Actual cash value coverage pays the depreciated value of damaged items, while replacement cost coverage pays to replace items with new equivalents. For example, if your 10-year-old roof suffers wind damage, actual cash value reimburses you for a depreciated roof worth less than half its original value.
Replacement cost coverage pays to install a brand-new roof. Most South Carolina lenders require replacement cost coverage, which costs 10-15% more but provides better protection after hurricane or hail damage.
Older homes in South Carolina cost 56% more to insure than newer properties. A home built in 1980 averages $3,229 annually, while a 2020-built home costs $2,075 per year. This creates a $1,154 annual difference between old and new homes. Middle-aged homes from 2000 fall between these extremes at $3,100 per year.
Insurance companies charge higher premiums for older homes because aging systems create a greater risk. Outdated wiring, plumbing and roofing are more likely to fail and trigger expensive claims.
Standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage. South Carolina's coastal and low-lying areas need separate flood insurance for that protection. Properties in FEMA-designated flood zones with federally backed mortgages must carry flood coverage.
Flood risk isn't limited to mapped zones. You can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
How We Analyzed South Carolina Home Insurance Rates
MoneyGeek analyzed real premium data across multiple variables to build South Carolina home insurance estimates.
Our standard homeowner profile carries $250,000 in dwelling coverage, $125,000 in personal property coverage, $200,000 in liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. The model assumes a home built in 2000 with frame construction, a composition roof and no insurance claims filed in the past five years.
This profile reflects median home values across South Carolina markets. Homes built in 2000 fall into the middle-aged category, the largest segment of properties statewide.
Our methodology changed one variable at a time while holding all others constant to isolate each risk factor. To test how construction year affects premiums, for example, we compared identical policies for homes built in 1980, 2000 and 2020.
Your actual premiums will differ based on your home's construction type, age, roof condition, location, coverage amounts, claims history, credit score and insurance company. The rate variations below show how much each factor can shift your final premium.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
Sources
- NOAA. "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters." Accessed January 6, 2026.