Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Greenville, SC versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 34% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$973
+17% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,042
+6% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,296
+2% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,433
+8% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$217,200
+52% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$45,300
+34% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$59,940
+29% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
33.4 yr
+1.4 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
25.7%
+15.5 pp in Greenville, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
18.3%
+36.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.8 min
+2.9 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
527.5
+19% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
2,949.2
+15% 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
60.5°F
51.2°F
+9.3°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
43.6 in
+7.2 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)
15.6
24.3
+56% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.33
+20% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.99%
+1.0 pp in CT

Greenville vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Hartford?
They're close. Greenville, SC runs about $1,300 a month and Hartford, CT about $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Hartford?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).