City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Greenville, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 9.5% higher than in Greenville, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greenville, SC would need about $109,500 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,221 in Greenville, SC. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 20% in Greenville, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Fresno, CA to Greenville, SC ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.0% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fresno, CA | Greenville, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 93.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,290 in Greenville | $109,541 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,221/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $46,580 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Greenville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 76.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 88.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 93.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Greenville, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
99 Strong offer
Greenville, SC → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
42 Weak offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Greenville, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Greenville, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Greenville, SC | Real change, Fresno → Greenville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +9.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +9.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +9.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +9.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +9.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Greenville, SC | Greenville pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $118,420 | $108,050 | $118,359 (−0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $121,790 | $133,410 (+3.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $76,870 | $84,204 (+7.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $81,400 | $89,166 (−28.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.