Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$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 New Haven, CT. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 21% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,159
+1% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,275
+15% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,473
+11% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,636
+6% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$249,000
+45% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$53,771
+21% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$60,060
+29% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
31.9 yr
+2.9 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
28.4%
+12.8 pp in Greenville, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
37.7%
+17.3 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
21.0 min
+1.1 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
536.3
+17% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,601.6
+4% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+8.3°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
47.1 in
+3.7 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
24.3
+56% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.33
+20% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.99%
+1.0 pp in CT

Greenville vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or New Haven?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or New Haven?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).