Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 11% higher in Madison, WI. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,018
+13% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,219
+10% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,432
+8% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,766
+14% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$346,900
+23% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$76,983
+12% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$58,080
+25% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
31.8 yr
+3.0 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
46.6%
+5.4 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
59.2%
+4.2 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.4 min
+0.5 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
259.5
+60% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
1,884.5
+46% 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
46.5°F
+14.0°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
34.5 in
+16.3 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
19.6
+26% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$18.17
+37% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Greenville, SC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Madison, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / WI)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
7.65%
+1.7 pp in WI

Greenville vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Madison?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Madison, WI's $1,420, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Madison?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).