The Cheapest Places to Retire in South Carolina in 2026

The cheapest places to retire in South Carolina in 2026 are ten small counties where the median property tax bill runs under $700 a year, most of them tucked into the Pee Dee region and the Upstate.

That adds up fast.

South Carolina gained more than 5,400 residents age 65 and older last year, more than any other state in the country, and the tax bills below help explain why.

Some of that migration comes straight from Florida, where more retirees each year are picking South Carolina over Florida for the property tax bill alone.

Note: This is general information, not financial or tax advice. Tax rules and dollar amounts are subject to change, so confirm the current details with a professional.

Kiplinger built this ranking with property tax data from the Tax Foundation, based on numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau.

It ranks South Carolina’s counties by their median yearly property tax bill, from the smallest bill on up.

Kiplinger runs a similar list for North Carolina, and the pattern looks familiar there too: Rural counties beat the cities on tax bills almost every time.

1. Marion County

Marion County holds the lowest property tax bill in South Carolina, a median of $436 a year, on a median home price of $93,200.

No county beats that.

The county sits in the Pee Dee region, about 45 minutes inland from Myrtle Beach, close enough for a beach day without paying a coastal price for the house.

Locals still talk about Revolutionary War general Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” whose raids through the local swamps gave the county its name.

A retiree living on Social Security and a modest pension keeps more of both in Marion County, since a full year of property tax barely covers a month of rent in a pricier state.

2. Dillon County

Off Interstate 95, Dillon County’s median property tax bill runs just $452 a year, with a median home price of $85,400, the second-lowest bill in the state.

That’s a steal.

The county sits along Interstate 95, about 40 minutes from Florence, and many drivers know it only for the neon lights of the South of the Border roadside attraction.

Residents know a calmer side, with fishing and camping at Little Pee Dee State Park and stock car racing at the local speedway on weekend nights.

Small-town streets and a fast interstate exit rarely come this cheap, but Dillon manages both.

3. Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County comes in third with a $487 median property tax bill, though its $116,200 median home price runs higher than the two counties ranked ahead of it.

The trade-off is distance.

Sitting near the North Carolina line, Chesterfield calls itself the “Gateway to the Carolinas,” and residents often drive 45 minutes for a major grocery store or a shopping trip.

What they get in exchange is Sand Hills State Forest for horseback riding and hiking, plus a handful of championship golf courses without a country-club price tag.

Forty-five minutes is a small price to pay for a $487 tax bill and a forest full of trails.

4. Marlboro County

At $496 a year, Marlboro County’s median property tax bill lands it fourth on the list, and its $82,000 median home price is the second-lowest of any county here.

That’s a lot of house.

The county seat of Bennettsville is home to Blenheim Ginger Ale, a fiery, long-running soda that’s been bottled locally since 1903.

Cotton and strawberry fields still ring Marlboro’s small towns, and county fairs fill the calendar through the fall.

An $82,000 home and a $496 tax bill leave room in the budget for a case of Blenheim Ginger Ale.

5. Union County

Fifth place goes to Union County, where a $579 median property tax bill pairs with a $103,600 median home price.

Trees replace the tide.

The county holds a wide slice of Sumter National Forest, nearly 62,000 acres open for hunting, hiking, and camping, plus five lakes for weekend fishing.

After a day outdoors, locals point newcomers toward Midway BBQ in Buffalo, an 85-year-old family-run spot that’s served the same style of South Carolina barbecue for generations.

Sixty-two thousand acres of forest come with a $579 tax bill, a fraction of what a coastal view costs an hour away.

6. Lee County

Lee County's median property tax bill comes in at $599 a year, sixth-lowest in the state, on a median home price of $104,600.

Small, but not sleepy.

Bishopville, the county seat, is home to the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden, a three-acre collection of hand-sculpted trees that pulls visitors from well outside South Carolina.

A local nonprofit keeps the garden growing today, open to anyone who wants to walk through it.

Trails along the Lynches River and Lee State Park round out a county built for a slower-paced retirement.

7. Cherokee County

Cherokee County's $614 median property tax bill puts it seventh on the list, though its $142,000 median home price is the highest so far.

History runs deep in Cherokee County.

Kings Mountain National Military Park marks a Revolutionary War battle Thomas Jefferson once called the turning point of the fight in the South.

Every July, the South Carolina Peach Festival takes over Gaffney, the county seat known for its giant peach-shaped water tower rising over Interstate 85.

The tax bill runs a little higher than the six counties ranked above it, but so does everything else about Cherokee, from the hills to the history to the peaches.

8. Darlington County

Eighth on the list, Darlington County carries a $652 median property tax bill and a $158,200 median home price.

Darlington Raceway, nicknamed "The Track Too Tough to Tame," is NASCAR's oldest superspeedway, and the Southern 500 still draws tens of thousands of fans each fall.

Away from the track, the county holds five nationally recognized historic districts, with oak-lined streets and antebellum homes.

That's a rare mix.

Darlington offers two NASCAR weekends a year, five historic districts, and a $652 tax bill, and nobody has to choose between them.

9. Allendale County

Allendale County ranks ninth on property tax, at $669 a year, but it wins on price with a median home cost of just $76,200, the lowest of any county on this list.

It's remote.

The county sits along the Savannah River, bordering Georgia, and Barnwell State Park gives residents lakefront swimming and fishing without a summer crowd.

A retiree comfortable with a longer drive to the nearest big-box store trades that convenience for the cheapest home price South Carolina has to offer.

It's not for everyone.

For the right retiree, it's hard to beat.

10. Williamsburg County

Williamsburg County rounds out the list at tenth, with a median property tax bill of $687, the highest of the ten, and a median home price of $104,500.

Still cheap.

The county sits about 90 minutes from both Charleston and Myrtle Beach, close enough for a coastal day trip without a coastal property tax bill.

Historic homes dating to the 1700s stand under southern magnolias and pine forest, and Black River State Park gives paddlers and anglers a calmer stretch of water than the coast offers.

For $687 a year, that's a trade most retirees would take without blinking.

What South Carolina Doesn't Tax

Property tax is only part of the savings for anyone retiring to South Carolina.

The state doesn't tax Social Security benefits at all, no matter how much a retiree collects.

South Carolina's legislature also overhauled its income tax in 2026, replacing the old graduated system with two brackets: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% on anything above that, down from a 6% top rate.

That's real money back every April.

Retirees get their own break on top of that, too. Filers 65 and older can deduct up to $10,000 of qualifying retirement income each year, with an added senior deduction available depending on what else they claim.

South Carolina's statewide property tax rate averages about 0.49% of a home's assessed value, one of the lowest rates in the country, though it varies quite a bit by county.

Cheapest South Carolina Counties Compared

FAQ

Quick answers to what people ask most about retiring somewhere cheap in South Carolina.

What is the cheapest place to retire in South Carolina?

Marion County, where the median property tax bill runs about $436 a year and the median home price sits near $93,200, based on 2026 Tax Foundation data.

Does South Carolina tax Social Security benefits?

No. South Carolina exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax entirely, no matter how much a retiree receives.

How much is property tax in South Carolina?

The statewide average runs about 0.49% of a home's assessed value, one of the lowest rates in the country, though the exact bill depends on the county.

What is South Carolina's income tax rate for retirees in 2026?

South Carolina taxes income at 1.99% up to $30,000 and 5.21% above that, and retirees 65 and older can also deduct up to $10,000 of qualifying retirement income each year.

Are these South Carolina counties good for retirement beyond low taxes?

Most offer state parks, historic downtowns, and short drives to Myrtle Beach or Charleston, though several require a longer trip to the nearest large grocery store or hospital.