City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Greenville, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greensboro, NC (92.9) and Greenville, SC (93.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greensboro, NC goes as far as $100,400 in Greenville, SC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,221 in Greenville, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,362 a year higher in Greenville, 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 Greensboro, NC to Greenville, SC changes real buying power by −0.4%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greensboro, NC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 93.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,425 in Greenville | $99,576 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,221/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $46,580 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Greenville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 76.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 88.8 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 93.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Greenville, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,362/yr.
67 Fair offer
Greenville, SC → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,362/yr.
70 Strong 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 Greensboro, NC to Greenville, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Greenville, SC | Real change, Greensboro → Greenville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Greenville, SC | Greenville pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $60,680 | $60,423 (+1.2%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $121,790 | $121,274 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $76,870 | $76,544 (−4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $81,400 | $81,055 (−2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.