Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,760/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 $2,760 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 52% higher in San Francisco, CA. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,560
+33% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$2,425
+118% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$2,982
+125% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$3,269
+111% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$1,380,500
+205% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$141,446
+107% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$74,260
+59% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
39.7 yr
+4.9 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
41.2%
38.5%
+2.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
60.1%
+5.1 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
19.9 min
31.2 min
+11.3 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
596.5
+8% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,962.2
+14% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+3.2°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
23.6 in
+27.1 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.55/gal
+41% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SF Muni (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
34.7
+123% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$20.33
+30% in Greenville, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Greenville, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
13.30%
+7.3 pp in CA

Greenville vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or San Francisco?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below San Francisco, CA's $2,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or San Francisco?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).