Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Tulsa, OK is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 15% 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
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$786
+33% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$847
+24% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,045
+21% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,265
+18% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$189,600
+58% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$58,407
+15% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$46,670
+0% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
35.5 yr
+0.7 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
41.2%
52.0%
+10.8 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
33.3%
+21.7 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
18.7 min
+1.2 min in Greenville, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
948.9
+46% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,664.6
+5% in Tulsa, OK

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
60.1°F
+0.4°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
43.7 in
+7.0 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 Tulsa, 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 Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Tulsa?
Tulsa, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Tulsa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $34,000 in Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Tulsa?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Tulsa 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).