Greenville, SC vs Auburn, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Auburn, AL has a modeled overall cost index 4.5% lower than Greenville, SC.

Greenville, SC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,415 / month
Auburn, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,270 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Greenville, SC and Auburn, AL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Greenville, SC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $98.35/month in Auburn, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,820 in Auburn, AL

Regional cost estimates: Greenville, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Auburn, AL uses Columbus, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$98.35

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Greenville, SC

Population:73K

Cost Index:

90.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$354K

Auburn, AL

Population:82K

Cost Index:

86.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$388K

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Greenville, SC

The Palmetto State

73K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 73K residents.

Auburn, AL

The Heart of Dixie

82K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 82K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Greenville, SC vs Auburn, AL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Greenville, SC	Auburn, AL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,266/mo	$1,879/mo	↓ $387less	17.1%
Transportation	$1,226/mo	$1,572/mo	↑ $346more	28.2%
Healthcare	$674/mo	$560/mo	↓ $114less	16.9%
All Utilities	$548/mo	$637/mo	↑ $88.87more	16.2%
Other	$1,741/mo	$1,708/mo	↓ $33.05less	1.9%
Groceries	$1,045/mo	$1,046/mo	↑ $0.51more	0.0%

Housing

↓ 17.1%

Greenville, SC

$2,266

Auburn, AL

$1,879

Difference

$387

less

Transportation

↑ 28.2%

Greenville, SC

$1,226

Auburn, AL

$1,572

Difference

$346

Healthcare

↓ 16.9%

Greenville, SC

$674

Auburn, AL

$560

Difference

$114

less

All Utilities

↑ 16.2%

Greenville, SC

$548

Auburn, AL

$637

Difference

$88.87

Other

↓ 1.9%

Greenville, SC

$1,741

Auburn, AL

$1,708

Difference

$33.05

less

Groceries

↑ 0.0%

Greenville, SC

$1,045

Auburn, AL

$1,046

Difference

$0.51

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Auburn, AL: Auburn Occupational Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)

Greenville, SC has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,230

To$910

↓ $320

1 Bed

From$1,285

To$1,160

↓ $125

2 Bed

From$1,415

To$1,270

↓ $145

3 Bed

From$1,705

To$1,610

↓ $95.00

Greenville, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,100–$1,760/mo

Auburn, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,090–$1,260/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Greenville, SC

$7,402

Monthly in Auburn, AL

$98.35

Difference

Home Values

Greenville

Auburn

$354K

Median Value

$388K

↑ +1.9%

YoY Change

↑ +4.5%

↑ +37.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.5%

$205K - $550K

Price Range

$364K - $412K

Homes in Auburn are 10% more expensive than Greenville

Calculate payment - Greenville Calculate payment - Auburn

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$208

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.7%

Rate difference

Greenville, SC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

South Carolina State Tax

Effective: 6.6%

$10.0K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.3%

$47.0K

Take-Home Pay

$8,586/month

$103.0K

Auburn, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Greenville, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

Auburn, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Greenville

Auburn

51 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

46.2%

Good Air Days

52.7%

97 High

Climate Risk

82 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

None

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

Before moving from Greenville, SC to Auburn, AL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Auburn, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Greenville, SC. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Greenville to Auburn moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Auburn, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Greenville, SC vs Auburn, AL

How do the cost estimates for Greenville, SC and Auburn, AL compare?

Auburn, AL has a modeled overall cost index 4.5% lower than Greenville, SC. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Greenville, SC, the model estimates $148,820 in Auburn, AL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Greenville, SC and Auburn, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,415/month in Greenville, SC and $1,270/month in Auburn, AL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between South Carolina and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com