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Cost of living in Greenville, SC

Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 93.1 (US = 100)

Greenville, SC
Photo: CantoV via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How Greenville compares

Where Greenville falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $315k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $315k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $158 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $158 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.53% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.53% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 530 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 530 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 36° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 36°

Map of Greenville

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.1 metro-area #74 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 95.9 metro-area #69 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.30 metro-area #74 of 200
Median household income $66,226 metro-area #133 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $38,181 metro-area #126 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 38.8 years metro-area #103 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 33.7% metro-area #97 of 200
Foreign-born residents 6.7% metro-area #126 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 70.6% metro-area #37 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 4.50% metro-area #53 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +6.8% metro-area #58 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $315,285 metro-area #86 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× metro-area #102 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +2.0% metro-area #88 of 200
Price per square foot $158 metro-area #71 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,001 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,544 metro-area #92 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 4,338
Median days on market 19 metro-area #108 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% state #27 of 200
Combined sales tax 7.44% state #103 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 6.20%
Capital gains tax 6.40% state #140 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 0.53% metro-area #23 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,169 metro-area #17 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 74.9 years metro-area #156 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 11.0% metro-area #136 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 90 metro-area #37 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 state #19 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $40 state #4 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.33% of value (~$652/yr) state #186 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 3
Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #115 of 200
Commute by driving alone 77.9% metro-area #144 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 34.1% metro-area #123 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 17.1¢/kWh state #107 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $154 state #107 of 200
Gasoline $3.05/gal state #45 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $56 state #51 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $97 state #88 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 88.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #90 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 49 metro-area #122 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,000 metro-area #44 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 33 metro-area #107 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200
Avg winter low 36°F metro-area #71 of 200
Annual precipitation 51.0" metro-area #167 of 200
Annual snowfall 3.5" metro-area #80 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 8a
Frost window 03-10 → 11-20

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 530 state #180 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 21 metro-area #162 of 200
Parks 13
Hiking areas 4
Golf courses 11
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 5

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Greenville

Major public and private employers in the Greenville, SC area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Prisma Health Healthcare Careers →
BMW Manufacturing automotive Search →
Michelin North America Manufacturing Careers →
Lockheed Martin Aerospace/Defense Careers →
General Electric Manufacturing Careers →
Clemson University Education Search →

Salaries by occupation in Greenville

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $163,700
Pharmacists $132,760
Financial Managers $128,250
Human Resources Managers $117,780
Physician Assistants $109,400
Marketing Managers $104,650
Software Developers $101,560
Lawyers $99,380
Mechanical Engineers $99,340
Construction Managers $97,800
Physical Therapists $97,680
Civil Engineers $96,050
General & Operations Managers $93,040
Data Scientists $88,980
Dental Hygienists $79,650
Registered Nurses $76,500
Accountants & Auditors $69,990
Web Developers $68,170
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $53,960
Electricians $52,920
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $51,780
Graphic Designers $50,860
Elementary School Teachers $49,400
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,190
Carpenters $47,000
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,540
Medical Assistants $38,250

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