Living Cost Compare
Grand Forks

North Dakota

$920/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 $920 in Grand Forks, ND versus $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Grand Forks, ND is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,838 in Grand Forks, ND and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 7% higher in Greenville, SC. North Dakota has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Grand Forks, ND
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$784
$1,175
+50% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$761
$1,113
+46% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$947
$1,325
+40% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,371
$1,550
+13% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,300
$453,300
+86% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$63,838
$68,460
+7% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,760
$46,580
+6% in Grand Forks, ND

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
29.4 yr
34.8 yr
+5.4 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
46.5%
41.2%
+5.3 pp in Grand Forks, ND
Bachelor's+ (25+)
39.2%
55.0%
+15.8 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
14.8 min
19.9 min
+5.1 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
360.3
649.8
+80% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
2,290.6
3,479.3
+52% 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
40.0°F
60.5°F
+20.5°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
20.8 in
50.8 in
+30.0 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Greenville, SC

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
15.6
+10% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.21
$29.07
+60% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Grand Forks, ND
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Greenville, SC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Grand Forks, ND
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Grand Forks, ND
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Grand Forks, ND
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ND / SC)
5%
6%
+1.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
6.00%
+3.5 pp in SC

Grand Forks vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Grand Forks or Greenville?
Grand Forks, ND is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Grand Forks than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Grand Forks versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Grand Forks or Greenville?
Grand Forks is taxed under North Dakota's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5% 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).