Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 2% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,127
+4% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,146
+3% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,385
+5% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,545
+0% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$266,100
+41% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$66,981
+2% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$48,830
+5% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
36.4 yr
+1.6 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
41.2%
57.4%
+16.2 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
31.8%
+23.2 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.1 min
+4.2 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
558.4
+14% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
2,600.1
+25% 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
70.2°F
+9.7°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
49.2 in
+1.6 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.83/gal
+3% in Greenville, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.1
+3% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.62
+19% 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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Greenville vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Jacksonville?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Jacksonville?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax 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).