Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Greenville?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $45,000 in Greenville.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Greenville?

Cleveland 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).

Cleveland vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 43% 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.

Cleveland, OH

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,175

+73% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,113

+52% in Greenville, SC

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,325

+47% in Greenville, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,550

+43% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$453,300

+382% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$68,460

+75% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$46,580

+7% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

34.8 yr

+1.5 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

about equal

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

55.0%

+33.7 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

22.9 min

19.9 min

+3.0 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

649.8

+59% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

3,479.3

+23% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

60.5°F

+7.8°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

50.8 in

+14.4 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 Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Greenville, SC

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$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%

+0.3 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

6.00%

+3.3 pp in SC

Cleveland vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Greenville?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Greenville?: Cleveland 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).