Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Greenville?

Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Greenville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $45,000 in Greenville.

Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Greenville?

Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Atlanta vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Atlanta

Georgia

$1,790/mo est.

Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,790 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 16% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,669

$1,175

+30% in Atlanta, GA

1 Bedroom

$1,576

$1,113

+29% in Atlanta, GA

2 Bedroom

$1,701

$1,325

+22% in Atlanta, GA

3 Bedroom

$1,557

$1,550

+0% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$420,600

$453,300

+8% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$81,938

$68,460

+16% in Atlanta, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,170

$46,580

+9% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.0 yr

34.8 yr

+0.8 yr in Greenville, SC

Homeownership

46.3%

41.2%

+5.1 pp in Atlanta, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.4%

55.0%

+3.4 pp in Atlanta, GA

Avg Commute

26.8 min

19.9 min

+6.9 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

603.7

649.8

+8% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

3,548.3

3,479.3

+2% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.6°F

60.5°F

+2.1°F in Atlanta, GA

Annual Precipitation

49.7 in

50.8 in

+1.1 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

15.6

+5% in Atlanta, GA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$38.60

$29.07

+25% in Atlanta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / SC)

+2.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

5.19%

6.00%

+0.8 pp in SC

Atlanta vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Greenville?: Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Atlanta, GA's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Greenville?: Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).