CostIndexUSA

Columbus, OH vs Greenville, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableSC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Greenville is slightly cheaper than Columbus — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $78,200 in Greenville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing12.6%
Columbus
87.9
Greenville
76.8
🛒 Groceries+2.9%
Columbus
93.6
Greenville
96.3
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Columbus
103.9
Greenville
103.2
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Columbus
94
Greenville
93.4
Utilities7.0%
Columbus
95.5
Greenville
88.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbus to see what you'd need to earn in Greenville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Greenville, SC
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Greenville

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9770. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Greenville, SC

Median Home Price
$303,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
76.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Columbus has 12.6% lower housing costs compared to Greenville.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Greenville, SC

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
72,885
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTechnologyAutomotiveFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Greenville, SC
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.