Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Colorado

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Aurora, CO versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 20% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,175
1 Bedroom
$1,138
$1,113
+2% in Aurora, CO
2 Bedroom
$2,284
$1,325
+42% in Aurora, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,320
$1,550
+33% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$689,000
$453,300
+34% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$85,364
$68,460
+20% in Aurora, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$46,580
+25% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.3 yr
34.8 yr
+0.5 yr in Aurora, CO
Homeownership
46.0%
41.2%
+4.8 pp in Aurora, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.4%
55.0%
+13.6 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
18.7 min
19.9 min
+1.2 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
952.9
649.8
+32% in Aurora, CO
Property Crime
3,368.1
3,479.3
+3% 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
50.2°F
60.5°F
+10.3°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
50.8 in
+35.2 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.6
+9% in Aurora, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$29.07
+93% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / SC)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.00%
+1.6 pp in SC

Aurora vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Aurora, CO's $1,310, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Greenville?
Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).