Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 14% 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.

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,175
+66% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,113
+36% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,325
+33% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,550
+24% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$453,300
+164% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$68,460
+17% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$46,580
+18% in Greenville, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.8 yr
+0.7 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
60.2%
41.2%
+19.0 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
55.0%
+27.5 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
23.7 min
19.9 min
+3.8 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
649.8
+103% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
1,509.3
3,479.3
+131% 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
64.6°F
60.5°F
+4.1°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
50.8 in
+41.1 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)
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.6
+2% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$29.07
+9% in El Paso, TX

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 (TX / SC)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.00%
+6.0 pp in SC

El Paso vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Greenville?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Greenville?
El Paso 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).