City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Greenville, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 8.3% higher than in Greenville, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greenville, SC would need about $108,300 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 $1,221 in Greenville, SC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 20% in Greenville, SC.
- Both are in SC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,843 a year on $100,000.
- 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 Greenville, SC changes real buying power by +8.3%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charleston, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 93.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,371 in Greenville | $108,259 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,221/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,580 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Greenville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 76.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 88.8 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 93.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Greenville, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
95 Strong offer
Greenville, SC → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
43 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 Greenville, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Greenville, SC | Real change, Charleston → Greenville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Greenville, SC | Greenville pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,680 | $65,691 (+7.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $121,790 | $131,848 (−0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $76,870 | $83,218 (+4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $81,400 | $88,123 (−5.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.