Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 8% higher in Greenville, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,052
+10% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,084
+3% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,327
+0% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,545
+0% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$219,700
+52% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$62,917
+8% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$47,010
+1% in San Antonio, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.6 yr
+0.2 yr in Greenville, SC
Homeownership
41.2%
52.4%
+11.2 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
28.7%
+26.3 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.6 min
+4.7 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
605.7
+7% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
4,665.7
+34% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+8.0°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
34.9 in
+15.9 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Greenville, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.9
+3% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$31.89
+10% in San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Greenville vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or San Antonio?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).