What is the cost of living in Greenville, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Greenville has an overall cost of living index of 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Greenville has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Greenville ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Greenville ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Greenville, check out:
Greenville Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Greenville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Greenville is 100.
The Groceries index in Greenville is 99.
The Health index in Greenville is 161.
The Housing index in Greenville is 100.
The Transportation index in Greenville is 103.
The Utilities index in Greenville is 100.
| Living Expense | Greenville | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 161 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 97 | 100 |
Greenville Cost Of Living Compared To South Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina
- Average Rent In South Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Greenville, SC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Greenville is $327,592.
The Median Rent in Greenville is $1,312.
The Median Income in Greenville is $71,472.
The Home Value To Income in Greenville is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Greenville is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Greenville | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $327,592 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,312 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,472 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Greenville, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Greenville Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Greenville | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.47 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.74 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Greenville Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Greenville | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.78 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.45 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Greenville Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Greenville | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $114.8 | $113.29 |
Detailed Greenville Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Greenville | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Greenville Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Greenville | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 |
Greenville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Greenville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Greenville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greer, SC has a cost of living index of 100, 0.8x Greenville.
Mauldin, SC has a cost of living index of 98, 0.8x Greenville.
Simpsonville, SC has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Greenville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Greenville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greer, SC | 41,536 | 100 | 0.8x |
| Mauldin, SC | 27,055 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Simpsonville, SC | 26,144 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Easley, SC | 24,841 | 96 | 0.8x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Wade Hampton, SC | 20,898 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Five Forks, SC | 18,656 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Gantt, SC | 15,401 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Parker, SC | 12,898 | 88 | 0.7x |
| Fountain Inn, SC | 12,020 | 93 | 0.8x |
