Living Cost Compare
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Greenville, SC is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,460 in Greenville, SC and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 36% higher in Washington, DC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Greenville, SC
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,175
$1,763
+50% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,113
$1,885
+69% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,325
$1,949
+47% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,550
$2,249
+45% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$453,300
$724,600
+60% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$68,460
$106,287
+55% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,580
$71,060
+53% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.9 yr
+0.1 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
41.2%
41.1%
+0.1 pp in Greenville, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.0%
63.6%
+8.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
19.9 min
30.3 min
+10.4 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
649.8
936.3
+44% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,479.3
3,627.9
+4% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+2.3°F in Greenville, SC
Annual Precipitation
50.8 in
39.7 in
+11.0 in in Greenville, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
24.4
+57% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$27.28
+6% 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 / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
10.75%
+4.8 pp in DC

Greenville vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Greenville or Washington?
Greenville, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Greenville than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Greenville versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Greenville or Washington?
Greenville is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).