CostIndexUSA

Greenville, SC vs Richmond, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableSC
Greenville
93.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Greenville is slightly cheaper than Richmond — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $83,900 in Richmond. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.0%
Greenville
76.8
Richmond
99.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Greenville
96.3
Richmond
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Greenville
103.2
Richmond
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Greenville
93.4
Richmond
93.7
Utilities≈ Equal
Greenville
88.8
Richmond
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Richmond, VA
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Richmond

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 93.3) = salary × 1.0493. 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×

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Richmond has 29.0% 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

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

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)

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.