CostIndexUSA

Greenville, SC vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Greenville is moderately cheaper than Philadelphia — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $88,000 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+47.3%
Greenville
76.8
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Greenville
96.3
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+4.8%
Greenville
103.2
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+4.8%
Greenville
93.4
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+28.8%
Greenville
88.8
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 93.3) = salary × 1.0997. 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×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Philadelphia has 47.3% 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

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

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)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.