Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 24% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,175
+39% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,113
+37% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,325
+39% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,550
+42% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$453,300
+41% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$68,460
+24% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$46,580
+17% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.8 yr
+1.1 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
41.2%
+4.7 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
55.0%
+26.2 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
28.2 min
19.9 min
+8.3 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
649.8
+9% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
2,234.9
3,479.3
+56% in Greenville, SC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
60.5°F
+6.6°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
50.8 in
+37.3 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
15.6
+55% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$29.07
+43% in Greenville, SC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / SC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.00%
+7.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Greenville?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).