C+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
58%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Greenville South Carolina National
Cost of living11693100
Goods & Services102100100
Groceries9899100
Health care10094100
Housing15880100
Transportation9091100
Utilities92107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Greenville, SC

The cost of living in Greenville affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Greenville is 116, which is 16% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs significantly influence the Greenville cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 58.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Greenville?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 41 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Greenville and this is how they responded. 44% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 56% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Greenville Affordable?

Wondering if Greenville is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Greenville, for example, the median home price is 80.1% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 6.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Greenville boasting a median household income of $58,259, which is 5.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Greenville?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Greenville comes in at 7.8% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Greenville, the transportation index is 9.7% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Greenville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Greenville is 25% higher than the South Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Greenville is 16% higher than the national average
  • Greenville housing is 58% higher than the national average
  • South Carolina general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • South Carolina state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Greenville

See all the best places to live around Greenville

Compare Greenville, SC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$98,822$8,235$2,306$2,965
      Renters$41,424$3,452$966$1,243
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Greenville, SC, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Greenville, the median monthly income is $98,822 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,306 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $41,424, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $966 on monthly rental expenses.

      South Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      South Carolina 6% 9%

      South Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      South Carolina 0% 6.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.74$24.266.1%
      Beauty Salon $51.07$45.5612.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.287.2%
      Movie $14.47$12.1319.3%
      Bowling $18.39$18.002.2%

      Groceries

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.574.6%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $5.31$4.937.6%
      Pizza $11.78$12.092.5%
      Beer $10.45$10.410.4%

      Health Care

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.21$125.684.4%
      Doctor $123.75$135.788.9%
      Dentist $114.80$113.291.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.43$10.652.1%
      Lipitor $534.74$468.6014.1%

      Housing

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $332,700.00$184,700.0080.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,581.44$2,346.6932.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,013.00$949.006.7%

      Transportation

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.2%
      Tire Balancing $56.50$59.925.7%

      Utilities

      Item Greenville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $170.53$193.9912.1%
      Phone $189.75$192.251.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Tigerville, SC2,023981.9%
      Slater-Marietta, SC2,0988316.6%
      Judson, SC1,4128514.8%
      Parker, SC12,1758614.2%
      West Pelzer, SC1,0498712.9%
      Greenville, SC69,64811616.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Glen Burnie, MD69,64911515.3%
      Marysville, WA69,62913434.0%
      Lynwood, CA69,62514140.9%
      Granby, QC69,530n/a 
      Grande Prairie, AB69,512n/a 
      Greenville, SC69,64811616.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.