Living Cost Compare
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 15% higher in Greenville, SC. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Dover, DE
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$993
$1,175
+18% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,047
$1,113
+6% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,185
$1,325
+12% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,634
$1,550
+5% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$248,500
$453,300
+82% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$58,336
$68,460
+17% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,690
$46,580
+0% in Dover, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.8 yr
+0.3 yr in Dover, DE
Homeownership
47.0%
41.2%
+5.8 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.1%
55.0%
+27.9 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
24.0 min
19.9 min
+4.1 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,025.3
649.8
+37% in Dover, DE
Property Crime
6,159.1
3,479.3
+44% in Dover, DE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.9°F
60.5°F
+3.6°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
50.8 in
+4.7 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)
19.3
15.6
+19% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$29.07
+2% in Dover, DE

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 (DE / SC)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
6.00%
+0.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Greenville?
Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Greenville?
Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).