Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Huntington

West Virginia

$940/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 $940 in Huntington, WV. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $43,146 in Huntington, WV — about 37% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$762
+35% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$758
+32% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$881
+34% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,121
+28% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$118,800
+74% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$43,146
+37% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$44,600
+4% in Greenville, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.9 yr
+0.1 yr in Huntington, WV
Homeownership
41.2%
52.5%
+11.3 pp in Huntington, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
34.5%
+20.5 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
18.6 min
+1.3 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
800.3
+23% in Huntington, WV
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,617.9
+4% in Huntington, WV

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
55.7°F
+4.8°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
42.6 in
+8.2 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
15.4
+1% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$24.68
+15% in Greenville, SC

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 (SC / WV)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.82%
+1.2 pp in SC

Greenville vs Huntington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Huntington?
Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Huntington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $30,000 in Huntington.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Huntington?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Huntington under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).