Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 4% higher in Newark, DE. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,649
+40% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,391
+25% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,513
+14% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,916
+24% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$357,600
+21% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$71,373
+4% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$54,310
+17% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
22.0 yr
+12.8 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
50.3%
+9.1 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
57.5%
+2.5 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.9 min
19.6 min
+0.3 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
326.3
+50% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
2,024.6
+42% 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
54.9°F
+5.6°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
43.1 in
+7.7 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
19.3
+24% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$29.73
+2% in Newark, DE

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 / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in DE

Greenville vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Newark?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Newark?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).