Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Provo?

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Provo?

Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Greenville vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 8% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,175

$1,009

+14% in Greenville, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,113

$978

+12% in Greenville, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,325

$1,128

+15% in Greenville, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,550

$1,381

+11% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$453,300

$437,100

+4% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$68,460

$62,800

+8% in Greenville, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,580

$48,010

+3% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

23.7 yr

+11.1 yr in Greenville, SC

Homeownership

41.2%

39.9%

+1.3 pp in Greenville, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.0%

45.0%

+10.0 pp in Greenville, SC

Avg Commute

19.9 min

18.5 min

+1.4 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

649.8

205.7

+68% in Greenville, SC

Property Crime

3,479.3

1,280.6

+63% 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

53.4°F

+7.1°F in Greenville, SC

Annual Precipitation

50.8 in

19.8 in

+31.0 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Provo, UT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

13.4

+14% in Greenville, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$11.84

+59% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Greenville, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / UT)

6.1%

+0.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

4.50%

+1.5 pp in SC

Greenville vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Provo?: Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).