City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Greensboro, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 8.7% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $108,700 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,213 in Greensboro, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 19% in Greensboro, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,362 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Greensboro, NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Greensboro, NC changes real buying power by +8.7%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Greensboro, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,980 in Greensboro | $108,719 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,213/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Greensboro-High Point, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Greensboro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 74.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 89.1 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,362/yr.
96 Strong offer
Greensboro, NC → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.0%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,362/yr.
42 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Greensboro, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Greensboro, NC | Real change, Charleston → Greensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Greensboro, NC | Greensboro pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $59,730 | $64,938 (+6.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $125,190 | $136,105 (+3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $80,170 | $87,160 (+9.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $82,860 | $90,085 (−2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.