Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 5% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$755
+36% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$953
+14% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,176
+11% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,676
+8% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$427,400
+6% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$65,329
+5% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$47,830
+3% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.3 yr
+0.5 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
47.8%
+6.6 pp in Missoula, MT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
51.7%
+3.3 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
16.6 min
+3.3 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
601.9
+7% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,685.2
+6% in Missoula, MT

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
45.9°F
+14.6°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
14.1 in
+36.6 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in Missoula, MT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.1
+3% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$10.12
+65% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Missoula, MT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Missoula, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / MT)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
5.65%
+0.3 pp in SC

Greenville vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Missoula?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).