Want your own private island in the SC Lowcountry? Here’s how much it costs
Ever dreamed of escaping to your very own island in the Lowcountry?
For a few million dollars, Beaufort County might just make that dream a reality — complete with marsh views, wildlife and easy water access.
Two current listings on St. Helena Island show just how close you can get to owning your own slice of paradise.
Here’s what to know about the two listings and how they compare to other home and property prices across Beaufort County this year.
A 20-acre private retreat
This private property at 40 Steady Gittin It Lane is reached via a single timber bridge — one way in, one way out.
Listed at $1.59 million by NextHome Lowcountry, the island is undeveloped but far from unprepared.
Infrastructure is already in place for a large residence, including water purification utilities and an engineered septic system designed to accommodate a seven-bedroom home, along with a secondary system for an RV hookup.
When buying an island, water access is no doubt a piece of the appeal. Luckily, this property offers a deep-water dock with a boat lift and floating dock for easy access to Jenkins Creek for fishing trips or a short ride to the Atlantic Ocean.
Other than easy access to the water, this property is home to three dedicated acres for turkeys and wildlife conservation. It also sits about 15 minutes from Hunting Island State Park.
After spending more than 400 days on the market, this property is currently under contract, according to NextHome Lowcountry.
The “key” to island life
If one private island isn’t enough, 101 Kingston Key Drive offers a 12-acre alternative at $2.95 million.
Kingston Key features eight permitted home sites, each ranging from approximately 0.75 to 1.2 acres. Utilities and permits are already in place, and each homesite offers views of the Morgan River, surrounding islands, open ocean or expansive salt marshes.
Access to Kingston Key is available through a half-mile paved causeway lined with palm trees.
According to Lowcountry Real Estate, this property is also currently under contract.
Of course, if cars aren’t your style, you can reach both 40 Steady Gettin It Lane and Kingston Key in true Lowcountry fashion by boat.
How these island prices stack up locally
While both listings offer alluring private islands with significant price tags, neither is record-setting for 2025, on either side of the Broad River.
One of the most expensive pieces of property north of the Broad this year was a half-acre space at 94 Bay Drive in Beaufort, which sold in September for $3.95 million.
Another notable sale followed in November, when the historic home at 302 Federal Street, built in 1830, sold for $3.6 million.
On Hilton Head Island, home and property prices tell a different story on the resort and tourism-centric community. Although prices have dipped slightly this year, some home sales still shattered records.
The most expensive home sale this year was a newly built oceanfront home at 15 Bald Eagle Road in Sea Pines, which sold for $12.5 million on July. The six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home features ocean-view suites, heated floors, a chef’s kitchen with commercial-grade appliances and a resort-style outdoor space with an infinity pool and sunken fire pit.
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In terms of land alone, one of the most expensive property sales on Hilton Head this year occurred in October, when a 0.33-acre parcel at 5 Gadwall Road sold for $8.05 million.
