Living Cost Compare
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 24% higher in Charleston, SC. Both cities are in South Carolina, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,579
$1,175
+26% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,113
+22% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,684
$1,325
+21% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$2,076
$1,550
+25% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$469,100
$453,300
+3% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$90,038
$68,460
+24% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,150
$46,580
+5% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.1 yr
34.8 yr
+1.3 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
55.6%
41.2%
+14.4 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.7%
55.0%
+2.7 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.9 min
+3.9 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
358.8
649.8
+81% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
2,035.1
3,479.3
+71% 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
66.7°F
60.5°F
+6.2°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
44.4 in
50.8 in
+6.4 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)
15.6
15.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$29.07
about equal

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 (SC / SC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.00%
about equal

Charleston vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Greenville?
Neither — both are in South Carolina, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).