Columbia, SC vs Greenville, SC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Greenville, SC and Columbia, SC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Columbia works out to about $74,700 in Greenville, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.3% lower in Greenville, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,566 a month in Greenville and $1,557 in Columbia, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $312,000 in Greenville and $253,000 in Columbia.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Columbia and Greenville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | 93.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.5 | 76.8 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 88.8 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| Category | Columbia | Greenville | Greenville vs Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | 93.3 | −0.4% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.5 | 76.8 | −3.3% |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 88.8 | +0.5% |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,557 | $1,566 | +0.6% |
| Typical home value | $253,000 | $312,000 | +23.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Columbia | $75,000 | $74,700 | −0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Columbia and Greenville has narrowed since 2008: 2.2 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.5 | 91.3 |
| 2009 | 92.3 | 91.0 |
| 2010 | 94.1 | 93.1 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 93.3 |
| 2012 | 94.4 | 93.2 |
| 2013 | 94.7 | 93.0 |
| 2014 | 94.1 | 92.6 |
| 2015 | 94.7 | 93.4 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 93.7 |
| 2017 | 93.6 | 93.0 |
| 2018 | 92.3 | 91.7 |
| 2019 | 91.0 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 90.3 |
| 2021 | 93.2 | 93.4 |
| 2022 | 93.4 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 93.2 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.7 | 93.3 |
Goods
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| 2012 | 95.9 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 96.4 | 96.7 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 95.6 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 96.7 |
| 2017 | 96.1 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 94.5 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.2 | 65.6 |
| 2009 | 76.5 | 69.8 |
| 2010 | 78.1 | 73.5 |
| 2011 | 81.2 | 71.2 |
| 2012 | 77.2 | 71.2 |
| 2013 | 78.7 | 69.6 |
| 2014 | 75.1 | 67.3 |
| 2015 | 78.2 | 71.8 |
| 2016 | 75.0 | 70.0 |
| 2017 | 74.7 | 70.7 |
| 2018 | 74.1 | 70.3 |
| 2019 | 71.2 | 69.4 |
| 2020 | 69.6 | 70.6 |
| 2021 | 74.8 | 73.7 |
| 2022 | 78.8 | 76.1 |
| 2023 | 78.4 | 76.9 |
| 2024 | 79.5 | 76.8 |
Utilities
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.7 | 88.6 |
| 2009 | 88.0 | 89.2 |
| 2010 | 90.3 | 91.4 |
| 2011 | 91.8 | 92.6 |
| 2012 | 95.2 | 94.9 |
| 2013 | 94.9 | 95.2 |
| 2014 | 97.2 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 97.2 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 94.0 | 93.3 |
| 2018 | 92.9 | 93.8 |
| 2019 | 95.5 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 93.2 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 91.2 |
| 2022 | 88.8 | 89.7 |
| 2023 | 85.4 | 86.4 |
| 2024 | 88.3 | 88.8 |
Other services
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 98.2 |
| 2009 | 97.2 | 97.6 |
| 2010 | 99.0 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 100.3 | 100.7 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 100.1 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.6 |
| 2016 | 101.3 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,566 in Greenville vs $1,557 in Columbia
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $875 | $910 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $885 | $936 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $890 | $941 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $892 | $941 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $900 | $961 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $913 | $975 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $911 | $981 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $913 | $972 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $928 | $991 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $939 | $1,010 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $947 | $1,011 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $947 | $1,017 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $964 | $1,029 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $979 | $1,056 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $982 | $1,066 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $993 | $1,061 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,007 | $1,080 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,025 | $1,103 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,023 | $1,105 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,022 | $1,093 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,046 | $1,127 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,063 | $1,126 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,075 | $1,143 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,084 | $1,154 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,114 | $1,184 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,166 | $1,247 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,213 | $1,294 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,240 | $1,305 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,257 | $1,331 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,307 | $1,389 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,332 | $1,420 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,337 | $1,396 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,351 | $1,420 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,387 | $1,440 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,411 | $1,448 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,408 | $1,456 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,416 | $1,456 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,447 | $1,489 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,460 | $1,483 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,473 | $1,504 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,502 | $1,530 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,516 | $1,529 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,523 | $1,526 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,531 | $1,523 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,541 | $1,539 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,537 | $1,554 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,557 | $1,566 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $312,000 in Greenville vs $253,000 in Columbia
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbia, SC | Greenville, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $132K | $152K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $133K | $154K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $134K | $157K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $136K | $160K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $138K | $163K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $139K | $164K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $140K | $167K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $142K | $170K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $144K | $172K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $145K | $175K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $146K | $177K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $148K | $181K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $150K | $184K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $151K | $187K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $153K | $191K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $155K | $193K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $157K | $195K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $159K | $196K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $160K | $199K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $163K | $202K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $166K | $206K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $168K | $208K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $171K | $213K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $177K | $222K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $184K | $230K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $193K | $239K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $199K | $246K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $204K | $253K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $215K | $269K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $228K | $285K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $233K | $290K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $234K | $291K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $233K | $292K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $236K | $295K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $240K | $298K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $242K | $300K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $243K | $302K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $246K | $306K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $248K | $306K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $248K | $306K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $251K | $307K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $249K | $307K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $249K | $308K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $251K | $310K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $253K | $313K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $253K | $313K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $253K | $312K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.