Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Greenville?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $45,000 in Greenville.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Greenville?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).

Eugene vs Greenville Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 7% higher in Greenville, SC. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,175

+16% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,113

+3% in Greenville, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,325

+6% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,550

+7% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$453,300

+4% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$68,460

+7% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$46,580

+6% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

34.8 yr

+0.6 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

41.2%

+6.4 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

55.0%

+10.8 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

18.6 min

19.9 min

+1.3 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

649.8

+103% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

3,348.9

3,479.3

+4% 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

52.5°F

60.5°F

+8.0°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

50.8 in

+4.7 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

15.6

+5% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$29.07

+35% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / SC)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

6.00%

+3.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Greenville?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Greenville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Greenville?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).