Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Greenville?

Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $45,000 in Greenville.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Greenville?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 46% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,175

+47% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,113

+55% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,325

+56% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,550

+53% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$453,300

+56% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$68,460

+46% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$46,580

+30% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

34.8 yr

+4.3 yr in Greenville, SC

Homeownership

33.7%

41.2%

+7.5 pp in Greenville, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

55.0%

+25.2 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

19.9 min

+6.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

649.8

+49% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,479.3

+31% 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

51.5°F

60.5°F

+9.0°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

50.8 in

+7.0 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.6

+47% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$29.07

+5% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / SC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

6.00%

+3.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Greenville?: Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Greenville?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).