Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 5% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$820
+30% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$863
+22% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,056
+20% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,377
+11% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$239,300
+47% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$65,060
+5% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$47,230
+1% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
31.6 yr
+3.2 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
52.7%
+11.5 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
46.2%
+8.8 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
22.2 min
+2.3 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
268.6
+59% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
2,294.1
+34% 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
61.5°F
+1.0°F in Norman, OK
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
36.5 in
+14.3 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
14.3
+8% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$31.25
+7% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
6%
4.5%
+1.5 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
4.50%
+1.5 pp in SC

Greenville vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,050 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Norman?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).