CostIndexUSA

Greenville, SC vs Lancaster, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Greenville is moderately cheaper than Lancaster — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $84,300 in Lancaster. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+22.1%
Greenville
76.8
Lancaster
93.8
🛒 Groceries+4.6%
Greenville
96.3
Lancaster
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Greenville
103.2
Lancaster
102.6
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Greenville
93.4
Lancaster
92.8
Utilities+20.8%
Greenville
88.8
Lancaster
107.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lancaster, PA
$84,300
$4,300 more needed in Lancaster

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 93.3) = salary × 1.0536. 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×

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Lancaster has 22.1% 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

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

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)

Lancaster, PA
4.5×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.