City comparison
Greenville, SC vs San Diego, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 20.0% higher than in Greenville, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greenville, SC would need about $120,000 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,221 in Greenville, SC. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 20% in Greenville, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.2% moving from Greenville, SC to San Diego, CA ($106,437 → $121,585), while prices change by +20.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.8% in real buying power.
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greenville, SC | San Diego, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.3 | 111.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $119,973 in San Diego | $83,352 in Greenville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,221/mo | $2,459/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,580 | $58,690 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA |
Rent areas: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA. Metro areas: Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greenville | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 179.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 108.0 |
| Utilities | 88.8 | 174.2 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 93.3 | 111.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greenville, SC → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.6%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
15 Weak offer
San Diego, CA → Greenville, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +20.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greenville, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; San Diego, CA is in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Greenville, SC to San Diego, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greenville, SC | San Diego, CA | Real change, Greenville → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,507 | −4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,307 | −4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,246 | −4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,585 | −4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,677 | −4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greenville, SC | San Diego, CA | San Diego pay in Greenville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,680 | $97,000 | $80,851 (+33.2%) |
| Software Developers | $121,790 | $163,270 | $136,089 (+11.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,870 | $96,340 | $80,301 (+4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,400 | $139,520 | $116,293 (+42.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.