Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Juneau?

Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Juneau?

Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Greenville vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 32% higher in Juneau, AK. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Greenville, SC

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,175

$993

+15% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,113

$1,257

+13% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,325

$1,647

+24% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,949

+26% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$453,300

$432,500

+5% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$68,460

$100,513

+47% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,580

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

39.8 yr

+5.0 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

41.2%

64.4%

+23.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.0%

40.5%

+14.5 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

19.9 min

15.8 min

+4.1 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

649.8

515.6

+21% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

3,479.3

2,113.1

+39% 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

42.1°F

+18.4°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

50.8 in

62.3 in

+11.5 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

28.2

+81% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$17.35

+40% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / AK)

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

None

+6.0 pp in SC

Greenville vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Juneau?: Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Juneau?: Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).