Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Greenville?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Greenville?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Boise vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Boise, ID versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 16% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$1,175

+15% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,113

+2% in Boise, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,325

+1% in Boise, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,550

+11% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$453,300

+1% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$68,460

+16% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$46,580

+5% in Boise, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

34.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Boise, ID

Homeownership

63.0%

41.2%

+21.8 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

55.0%

+8.4 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

19.1 min

19.9 min

+0.8 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

649.8

+116% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

1,135.1

3,479.3

+207% 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

52.5°F

60.5°F

+8.0°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

50.8 in

+39.0 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Boise, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

15.6

+8% in Greenville, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$29.07

+157% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Boise, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Boise, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Boise, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Boise, ID

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Boise, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / SC)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

6.00%

+0.7 pp in SC

Boise vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Greenville?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Greenville?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).