CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Greenville, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
SC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than Greenville — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $83,500 in Greenville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.0%
Columbia
69.2
Greenville
76.8
🛒 Groceries+2.2%
Columbia
94.2
Greenville
96.3
🚗 Transportation+5.6%
Columbia
97.7
Greenville
103.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.7%
Columbia
88.4
Greenville
93.4
Utilities+3.3%
Columbia
86
Greenville
88.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Greenville, SC
$83,500
$3,500 more needed in Greenville

Formula: salary × (93.3 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0436. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Greenville, SC

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

Greenville has 11.0% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.