Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Greenville vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 29% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,175

$1,111

+5% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,113

$978

+12% in Greenville, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,325

$1,386

+5% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,695

+9% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$453,300

$337,800

+25% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$68,460

$48,416

+29% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,580

$61,430

+32% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

about equal

Homeownership

41.2%

24.1%

+17.1 pp in Greenville, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.0%

17.4%

+37.6 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

19.9 min

33.2 min

+13.3 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

649.8

582.5

+10% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

3,479.3

1,961.8

+44% 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

46.3 in

+4.5 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

24.9

+60% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$17.68

+39% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / NJ)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

10.75%

+4.8 pp in NJ

Greenville vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).