Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Augusta, GA versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 22% higher in Greenville, SC. 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.

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,175
+50% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$916
$1,113
+22% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,325
+28% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$1,550
+26% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$453,300
+178% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$68,460
+29% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$46,580
+1% in Greenville, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
34.8 yr
+0.1 yr in Augusta, GA
Homeownership
50.9%
41.2%
+9.7 pp in Augusta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
55.0%
+30.8 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
20.6 min
19.9 min
+0.7 min in Augusta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
649.8
+19% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,652
3,479.3
+5% in Augusta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
60.5°F
+4.7°F in Augusta, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
50.8 in
+4.2 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.6
+5% in Augusta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$38.60
$29.07
+25% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / SC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
6.00%
+0.8 pp in SC

Augusta vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Greenville?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Greenville?
Augusta 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).