Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Greenville?

Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $45,000 in Greenville.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Greenville?

Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).

Dallas vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 1% higher in Greenville, SC. Texas has no state income tax 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.

Dallas, TX

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,175

+7% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,113

+13% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,325

+12% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,550

+1% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$453,300

+54% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$68,460

+1% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$46,580

+9% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

34.8 yr

+1.4 yr in Greenville, SC

Homeownership

42.4%

41.2%

+1.2 pp in Dallas, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

55.0%

+17.6 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

26.0 min

19.9 min

+6.1 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

649.8

+2% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

3,479.3

+2% 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

67.2°F

60.5°F

+6.7°F in Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

50.8 in

+13.2 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.94/gal

+10% in Greenville, SC

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

Adult base one-way fare — DART vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.6

+2% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$29.07

+9% in Dallas, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / SC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.00%

+6.0 pp in SC

Dallas vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Greenville?: Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Greenville?: Dallas is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax 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).