City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 7.5% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $107,500 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Spartanburg, SC ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.9% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,044 in Spartanburg | $107,476 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$93/yr.
92 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$93/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Richmond → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $60,990 | $65,550 (+6.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $114,460 | $123,017 (−6.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $77,080 | $82,843 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $82,360 | $88,517 (−5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.