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We understand that moving can be stressful. At Swamp Rabbit Moving, we believe it doesn’t have to be! No matter where you’re moving to or from, whether it’s an apartment, a new house, or even long-distance, the Rabbits are here to make your move easy and reliable. We are licensed, bonded, and insured, so you can have peace of mind that your belongings are in good hands.
Greenville SC Cost of Living 💰 | [2025] Average Cost of Living in Greenville SC
If you’re considering moving to Greenville, South Carolina, you’ll be happy to know that the Greenville SC cost of living is lower than the national average! Situated in the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Greenville metro area offers affordability alongside a thriving job market, fun cultural attractions, and outdoor recreation.
Compared to other growing cities, the cost of living in Greenville SC remains relatively budget-friendly, especially in home prices, making it a great place to live for new homeowners. Additionally, retirees looking for 55+ communities in Greenville will find a range of options that provide both affordability and lifestyle amenities. With a median income that supports a comfortable standard of living, Greenville continues to attract new residents looking for a balance of opportunity and affordability. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the Greenville SC cost of living.
Is Greenville expensive? One of the best ways to analyze this is to take a look at the Greenville SC Cost of Living Index. The Cost of Living Index is published by the Community and Economic Research and compares the cost of goods and services in a city to the national average. According to the most recent data from the Community and Economic Research, the Greenville SC Cost of Living Index is 90.8. This means that the overall cost of living in the city is 9.2% less than the national average of 100.
What is the cost of living in South Carolina compared to Greenville? South Carolina has a Cost of Living Index of 95.5. This means that the Greenville SC cost of living is 4.7% more affordable than the state average.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Another great way to analyze the Greenville SC cost of living is to check out the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Consumer Price Index is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and analyzes the change in prices for goods and services in an area. This is a great way to see how the Greenville cost of living changes from month to month.
According to the most recent report, the CPI has risen 2.8% over the past 12 months and 0.6% over the past few months.
Consumer Expenditure Survey
To further understand the Greenville SC cost of living, take a look at the Consumer Expenditure Survey for the region. Also conducted by the Census Bureau, this survey helps to calculate the CPI and overall cost of living in Greenville SC. According to the latest survey, the average annual expenditure for a household in Greenville is $68,364. This is lower than the U.S. average of $77,280.
Here’s how this budget breaks down (and how it compares to the national average):
Housing: $22,322 (compared to the national average of $25,436)
Transportation: $12,247 (compared to the national average of $13,174)
Food: $8,852 (compared to the national average of $9,985)
Healthcare: $5,639 (compared to the national average of $6,159)
All other items: $19,304 (compared to the national average of $22,526)
Family Budget in Greenville South Carolina
How much would your family need to earn to live comfortably in Greenville? According to the Economic Policy Institute’s cost of living calculator, a family of four living in Greenville SC would need to earn $102,698 per year ($8,558 per month) to live comfortably in the area.
Of course, the Greenville cost of living will vary based on your family size and lifestyle. If you have no children, for example, you’ll save $1,554 per month on child care.
Cost of Household Items, Utilities, Gas & Groceries in Greenville
Everyday items will greatly contribute to the cost of living in Greenville SC. This includes factors like grocery prices and gas prices in Greenville South Carolina- anything that will influence the day-to-day Greenville SC cost of living. Here is the median price of some of the most common everyday items in Greenville, South Carolina.
Additionally, Greenville utilities will greatly influence your Greenville SC cost of living. According to Numbeo, the average monthly utilities in Greenville SC is $157 per month.
Greenville SC Real Estate Market
The real estate market plays a huge part in the Greenville SC cost of living. Luckily, the Greenville SC housing market is affordable, and there are plenty of Greenville SC homes for sale! According to Redfin, the average home price in Greenville SC is $410,000. This is lower than the national average median home price of $418,489 but higher than the South Carolina median home price of $377,900. The median price is down 5.2% compared to last year, leading to a decrease in the Greenville SC cost of living.
Most of the homes in Greenville are single family homes. If you purchase a townhome or condo, you can expect to pay a bit less. Here’s how the median home price in Greenville compares to other South Carolina cities:
Charleston: $555,000
Columbia: $267,000
Mount Pleasant: $963,813
Rock Hill: $315,000
Greenville SC Rental Market - Average Rent in Greenville SC
If you choose to rent, then this will impact your Greenville SC cost of living. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Greenville SC is $1,436 (or a bit higher for a two bedroom apartment). If you're looking for flexible or short-term options in the area, Casai provides fully furnished rental stays ideal for extended visits, relocations, or temporary housing in Greenville. The Greenville SC rent is less than the national average rent of $1,728.
Some neighborhoods in Greenville will impact your Greenville SC cost of living more than others. The most expensive neighborhoods to rent in Greenville include Payne-Logan, Southern side Greenville, and Sterling, where the average rent is $1,844. On the other hand, the most affordable neighborhoods in Greenville are Brutontown, North Main, and Park Place, where the average rent is $1,276 per month.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, you would need to earn $23.19 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Greenville without spending over 30% of your income on housing. This comes out to about $48,240 per year.
Are you curious about whether you should rent or buy in Greenville? According to the 2022 Rental Affordability Report, it is more affordable to buy than to rent in Greenville SC. You can also take a look at the price-to-rent ratio in the city. The higher the ratio is, the better the area is for renters. If the ratio is lower, then it’s a better market for buyers. Here’s the calculation for the price-to-rent ratio.
Median Home Price / Median Annual Rent = Price-to-Rent Ratio
Now, let’s plug Greenville’s numbers into this equation.
$410,000 / $17,232 = 23.7
This is considered to be a low price-to-rent ratio, and therefore, Greenville is more affordable for buyers.
Average Salary & Household Income in Greenville
Another good way to analyze the Greenville SC cost of living is to consider the average household income and average salary in Greenville SC. The median household income in Greenville is $68,460. This is higher than the South Carolina average of $66,818 and lower than the national average of $78,538.
The wages you earn from your job will help you balance the Greenville SC cost of living. Additionally, the minimum wage in Greenville SC is $7.25 per hour. According to Payscale, the average salary in Greenville SC is $72,000 per year. As such, the Greenville cost of living is very manageable if you get a job in the metro area. Of course, your income will depend on the industry you are working in. Here are a few of the most popular jobs as well as their salaries in Greenville, South Carolina.
Taxes are a large part of the Greenville SC cost of living. Taxes depend on how much land you own, your average income in Greenville SC, the median household income, and more. Here’s an overview of the taxes that will influence your Greenville SC cost of living.
South Carolina Income Tax Rate
The Greenville SC cost of living is greatly impacted by income taxes. South Carolina has a graduated state individual income tax, meaning your taxes vary depending on your Greenville SC median income. Based on how much you earn, you can expect to pay anywhere from 0 to 6.40% in income taxes.
Greenville SC Sales Tax Rate
The Greenville SC cost of living is also influenced by sales tax, which are taxes imposed on goods you purchase. The sales tax in Greenville SC is 6.0%, which is the flat rate for the entire state.
Greenville SC Property Tax Rate
In Greenville County, SC, property taxes are determined by applying an assessment ratio to the fair market value of the property. For owner-occupied residences, the assessment ratio is 4%, while for non-primary residences and commercial properties, it is 6%. The assessed value is then multiplied by the local millage rate to calculate the annual tax owed.
The median property tax rate in Greenville County is around .88%, which is lower than the national median of .99% but higher than the state median of 0.72%. Property taxes are paid to the Greenville County government.
What is the Greenville SC cost of living compared to the Charleston cost of living? These two South Carolina cities are popular choices for people moving to the state, but the cost of living in Greenville SC is significantly lower. The Cost of Living Index in Charleston is 111.5, making it 20.7% more expensive than the Greenville SC Cost of Living Index of 90.8 and 11.5% more expensive than the national average of 100.
One of the major contributions to this higher-than-average cost of living is housing. According to Redfin, the median home price in Charleston is $555,000. This is much higher than the Greenville average home price of $410,000 and the national average home price of $418,489. Additionally, the average rent in Charleston is $2,028, compared to the Greenville average of $1,436.
Here are a few other comparisons of the two cities:
Average household income: $90,038 in Charleston vs $68,460 in Greenville
Average salary: $70,000 in Charleston vs $72,000 in Greenville
Average monthly expenses: $9,242 in Charleston vs $8,558 in Greenville
Average utilities (per month): $242.03 in Charleston vs. $157.00 in Greenville
Move to Greenville With Swamp Rabbit Moving
Overall, the cost of living in Greenville SC is quite affordable compared to the state and national average. Additionally, the Greenville SC cost of living will vary based on your own lifestyle and needs. If moving to the Greenville area sounds great to you, then let the Greenville movers at Swamp Rabbit Moving & Storage assist you! Whether you need long distance movers, local movers, or storage services, our team has you covered! Give us a call today at (864) 643-2213 to get started with a free quote.
Chris Sweet
We began as a small company, me and a few guys, and 1 truck in October of 2020. Since then, we have grown to 19 trucks, a staff 60, and a 40,000-square-foot warehouse. To say I’m blessed with a great team is a vast understatement. During this journey, we have provided living wage jobs to all our employees and poured back into our community in big ways. That is something I’m truly proud of.
