City comparison
Greenville, SC vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greenville, SC (93.3) and Utica, NY (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greenville, SC goes as far as $99,400 in Utica, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,221 a month in Greenville, SC versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Greenville, SC and 15% in Utica, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,860 in NY.
- 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by +0.6%, purely from prices.
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greenville, SC | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.3 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,376 in Utica | $100,628 in Greenville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,221/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,580 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greenville | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.8 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 93.3 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greenville, SC → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
71 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Greenville, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
67 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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greenville, SC | Utica, NY | Real change, Greenville → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greenville, SC | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Greenville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,680 | $77,010 | $77,494 (+27.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,790 | $113,390 | $114,102 (−6.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,870 | $79,830 | $80,331 (+4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,400 | $94,300 | $94,892 (+16.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.