Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 25% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$1,175
+22% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$1,113
+30% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$1,325
+32% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$1,550
+32% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$453,300
+23% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$68,460
+25% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$46,580
+25% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
34.8 yr
+0.4 yr in Denver, CO
Homeownership
49.1%
41.2%
+7.9 pp in Denver, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
55.0%
+0.6 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
25.4 min
19.9 min
+5.5 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
999.3
649.8
+35% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.1
3,479.3
+27% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.2°F
60.5°F
+10.3°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
50.8 in
+35.2 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.16/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.6
+9% in Denver, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$29.07
+93% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Denver, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Denver, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Denver, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Denver, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / SC)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.00%
+1.6 pp in SC

Denver vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Greenville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Greenville?
Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).