CostIndexUSA

Greenville, SC vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableIA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Iowa City is slightly cheaper than Greenville — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $78,500 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.4%
Greenville
76.8
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Greenville
96.3
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation5.4%
Greenville
103.2
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare5.5%
Greenville
93.4
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities5.7%
Greenville
88.8
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 93.3) = salary × 0.9807. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Greenville, SC

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

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Iowa City has 9.4% higher housing costs compared to Greenville.

Income & Job Market

Greenville, SC

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

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Greenville, SC
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.