What renters in South Carolina actually pay for insurance, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ 2023 Homeowners Insurance Report (published July 2026) — plus why hurricane exposure keeps the Palmetto State 8% above the national average, and how the coast’s wind-only market works.
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South Carolina at a glance
The figures below are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premium for South Carolina — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026.
Average renters premium · South Carolina$187/yr~$16 a month · #10 of 51 states (1 = priciest) · 108% of the US average
$187/yrAverage annual premium (NAIC 2023)
~$16/moMonthly equivalent
108%Of the national average
#10 of 51Price rank (1 = priciest)
South Carolina$187/yrSouth Carolina average · ~$16/mo
+$14/yrvs national average
National average$173/yrAll 50 states + DC
South Carolina vs the country
Mississippi · priciest state$263/yr
Georgia · neighbor$206/yr
Tennessee · neighbor$189/yr
South Carolina · your state · #10$187/yr
North Carolina · neighbor$174/yr
United States average$173/yr
South Dakota · cheapest state$125/yr
How it works: figures are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premiums — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026. Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Rank is out of all 50 states + DC, priciest first. These are premiums paid, averaged across coverage amounts — a quote for a specific $30k/$100k policy will differ. Nothing you type leaves your device.
How this number is measured
The $187 figure isn’t a quote — it’s what South Carolina renters actually paid on average. The NAIC collects HO-4 (renters) premiums from every insurer, divides by policies in force, and publishes the state average. That makes it the cleanest benchmark available: same method, same policy form, every state, no marketing spin.
Output · formula · meaning
Output
Formula
What it means
Average annual premium
Σ premiums ÷ policies
What the typical South Carolina renter pays per year: $187.
Monthly equivalent
annual ÷ 12
The monthly budget figure: about $16.
Index vs US average
state avg ÷ $173 × 100
South Carolina sits at 108% of the national average — 8 points above the typical state.
Price rank
sorted, priciest first
South Carolina is #10 of 51 — the tenth-priciest state for renters insurance.
3 things South Carolina renters should know
No South Carolina law requires renters insurance. The requirement comes from the lease — and many South Carolina landlords, especially in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, require it, often with a liability minimum. Your lease, not the state, is the document that decides.
Wind is why the state sits 8% above average. Hurricane Hugo’s 1989 Category 4 landfall near Charleston is still the benchmark storm for the coast, and September 2024 brought a reminder far inland: Hurricane Helene knocked out power for over 1.3 million South Carolina customers — more than any other state — with record wind damage across Greenville and Spartanburg. Hurricane and tornado damage to your belongings is covered as a wind peril under a standard HO-4 policy, which is exactly why carriers price Palmetto State wind risk into every quote.
The coast has its own wind market — and floods need a separate policy. Along the coast, private insurers are often reluctant to write wind/hail coverage; the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association (created by state law, S.C. Code § 38-75-330) operates as the residual market for wind and hail in the coastal area. Your HO-4 still covers your belongings against wind — but flooding is excluded from every HO-4 policy, so renters near the coast or rivers should price contents-only flood coverage through the NFIP.
Who uses this page
Movers: budgeting a move to Charleston, Columbia, or Greenville — is $16/month about right for your renters policy?
Lease shoppers: checking whether the number your agent quoted is anywhere near the state average.
Coastal renters: understanding why wind coverage matters here — and what the Wind and Hail Association does.
Researchers & students: the NAIC figures are public statistics — cite them with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
These are 2023-policy-year averages published in July 2026 — the freshest official data available, but your 2026 quote will differ by ZIP code, building construction, coverage limits, deductible, claims history, and credit-based insurance score. Treat $187/yr as a benchmark, not a quote. Coastal ZIP codes run above the state average; Upstate and inland areas run closer to it.
Cite this data pageBright Side Kit. “Average Renters Insurance Cost in South Carolina.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.Bright Side Kit. "Average Renters Insurance Cost in South Carolina." https://brightoolbox.com/renters-insurance-cost-south-carolina/ Accessed October 22, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is renters insurance required in South Carolina?
No state law requires it — no US state mandates renters insurance. Landlords can, and many South Carolina landlords do, require it as a lease condition, often with a liability minimum. If your lease requires it, you need the policy to keep the lease.
How much is renters insurance in South Carolina per month?
The state average premium is about $16 a month ($187 a year) according to NAIC 2023 data — 108% of the national average, ranking 10th of 51 states. Coastal ZIP codes run above the average; Upstate and inland areas run closer to it.
Why is South Carolina more expensive than the US average?
Renters premiums track the claims mix on renters policies — theft, fire, water damage, liability, and wind. South Carolina’s hurricane exposure (Hugo in 1989 is the benchmark; Helene’s 2024 upstate wind damage was historic) means more wind claims per policy, which pushes the average up.
Does South Carolina renters insurance cover hurricane damage?
Wind damage — from hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornadoes — is covered as a wind peril under a standard HO-4 policy, so damage to your belongings is covered. What’s not covered: flooding from the storm, which needs a separate NFIP contents-only policy.
What is the SC Wind and Hail Underwriting Association?
It’s the state’s residual market for wind and hail insurance in the coastal area — created by state law (S.C. Code § 38-75-330) so people who can’t get wind/hail coverage from private insurers can still get it. Renters usually don’t buy from it directly; it matters because it keeps the coastal market functioning.
Does renters insurance in South Carolina cover floods?
No — flood is excluded from every standard HO-4 policy. Renters near the coast, the Lowcountry marshes, or rivers like the Congaree and Pee Dee can buy contents-only flood coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program.
What’s the cheapest way to lower my South Carolina renters insurance?
Raise the deductible (after confirming you could cover it from savings), bundle with auto insurance, pay annually instead of monthly, and document your belongings with photos so claims settle cleanly. The full playbook is in the how to lower your renters insurance guide.