Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 4% higher in Tampa, FL. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,242
+6% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,324
+19% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,673
+26% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,729
+12% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$375,300
+17% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$71,302
+4% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$48,940
+5% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
35.6 yr
+0.8 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
41.2%
50.2%
+9.0 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
44.6%
+10.4 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
24.7 min
+4.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
443.2
+32% in Greenville, SC
Property Crime
3,479.3
1,473.2
+58% 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
73.4°F
+12.9°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
46.3 in
+4.5 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.83/gal
+3% in Greenville, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
15.1
+3% in Greenville, SC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.62
+19% in Greenville, SC

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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
None
+6.0 pp in SC

Greenville vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Tampa?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Tampa?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).