City comparison
Greenville, SC vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rochester, NY are 4.0% higher than in Greenville, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greenville, SC would need about $104,000 in Rochester, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,221 a month in Greenville, SC and $1,256 in Rochester, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Greenville, SC to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by +4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.2% in real buying power.
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greenville, SC | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.3 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,048 in Rochester | $96,110 in Greenville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,221/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,580 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greenville | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.8 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 93.3 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greenville, SC → Rochester, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
57 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Greenville, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greenville, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Greenville, SC to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greenville, SC | Rochester, NY | Real change, Greenville → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | −3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | −3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | −3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | −3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | −3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greenville, SC | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Greenville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,680 | $62,840 | $60,395 (−0.5%) |
| Software Developers | $121,790 | $122,770 | $117,994 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,870 | $80,890 | $77,743 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,400 | $86,570 | $83,202 (+2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.