Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 24% higher in Greenville, SC. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$791
$1,175
+49% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,113
+36% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$1,325
+30% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,550
+26% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$453,300
+111% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$68,460
+32% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$46,580
+7% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.8 yr
+1.8 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
38.9%
41.2%
+2.3 pp in Greenville, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
55.0%
+13.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
23.1 min
19.9 min
+3.2 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
649.8
+24% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
3,479.3
+10% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
60.5°F
+6.2°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
50.8 in
+8.8 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in Greenville, SC

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
15.6
+19% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$29.07
+27% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cincinnati, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Greenville, SC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cincinnati, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / SC)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
6.00%
+3.3 pp in SC

Cincinnati vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Greenville?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Greenville?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).