City comparison
Greenville, SC vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greenville, SC (93.3) and Knoxville, TN (92.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greenville, SC goes as far as $99,300 in Knoxville, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,221 a month in Greenville, SC and $1,184 in Knoxville, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Greenville, SC than in Knoxville, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Greenville, SC to Knoxville, TN changes real buying power by +0.7%, purely from prices.
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
- Knoxville, TN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greenville, SC | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.3 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,259 in Knoxville | $100,746 in Greenville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,221/mo | $1,184/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,580 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greenville | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.8 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 93.3 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greenville, SC → Knoxville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
71 Strong offer
Knoxville, TN → Greenville, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Greenville, SC to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greenville, SC | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Greenville → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greenville, SC | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Greenville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,680 | $61,980 | $62,443 (+2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $121,790 | $121,750 | $122,659 (+0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,870 | $75,380 | $75,943 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,400 | $77,240 | $77,817 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.