Cost of Living Comparison Between Greenville, SC and Rockville, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Greenville, SC and Rockville, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,839 per month in Greenville, SC vs $3,025 in Rockville, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,256 per month in Greenville, SC vs $4,726 in Rockville, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,673 per month in Greenville, SC vs $6,427 in Rockville, MD, rent included.

Greenville, SC is about 6% cheaper than Rockville, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Greenville, SC and Rockville, MD sit above the global median – Greenville, SC by 112%, Rockville, MD by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.17 $25.17

$21.03 $21.03

19.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$80.3 $80.3

23.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.87 $11.87

$10.40 $10.40

14.13%

Cappuccino

$5.53 $5.53

$5.47 $5.47

1.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.49 $2.49

20.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.12 $2.12

12.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.45 $6.45

-8.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$7.46 $7.46

-8.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.24 $1.24

-20.97%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.83 $3.83

-2.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$4.46 $4.46

2.02%

Eggs

$3.04 $3.04

$4.13 $4.13

-26.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 $12.92

$13.49 $13.49

-4.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.74 $14.74

1.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.45 $19.45

$16.20 $16.20

20.06%

Apples (1kg)

$8.20 $8.20

$6.71 $6.71

22.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.60 $1.60

29.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.34 $7.34

$6.43 $6.43

14.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.31 $5.31

4.90%

Potato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$2.85 $2.85

69.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.81 $2.81

36.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.79 $1.79

35.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.63 $2.63

-16.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 $6.85

$11.81 $11.81

-42.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$14.72 $14.72

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.27 $2.27

-29.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.58 $3.58

-18.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.08 $5.08

$2.60 $2.60

95.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.7 $50.7

$138 $138

-63.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.92 $2.92

19.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.34 $1.34

12.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.93 $17.93

$24.41 $24.41

-26.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.84 $0.84

-9.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K $35.9K

$31.3K $31.3K

14.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

-1.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$156 $156

$172 $172

-9.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$46.41 $46.41

15.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$71.2 $71.2

-13.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 $72.1

$42.24 $42.24

70.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 $10.12

$12.55 $12.55

-19.36%

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 $13.02

$15.10 $15.10

-13.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,731 $1,731

$1,750 $1,750

-1.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,923 $9,923

$33.0K $33.0K

-69.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.32 $47.32

$51.1 $51.1

-7.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.38 $46.38

$52.7 $52.7

-11.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 $97.0

$93.7 $93.7

3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$118 $118

19.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 $1,816

$2,067 $2,067

-12.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 $1,429

$1,580 $1,580

-9.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,880 $2,880

$3,831 $3,831

-24.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,455 $2,455

$3,156 $3,156

-22.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 $2,023

$4,247 $4,247

-52.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,970 $1,970

$2,412 $2,412

-18.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,311 $4,311

$6,333 $6,333

-31.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.55

0.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Greenville, SC: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rockville, MD: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,816 in Greenville, SC versus $2,067 in Rockville, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 47% higher in Rockville, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Greenville, SC versus $80.0 in Rockville, MD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $462 vs $444 – making Rockville, MD the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Greenville, SC vs Rockville, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rockville, MD is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,259 per month in Greenville, SC and $4,538 in Rockville, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Greenville, SC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 173% less in Greenville, SC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,731 per month in Greenville, SC and $1,750 in Rockville, MD. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,839 in Greenville, SC and $3,025 in Rockville, MD. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Greenville, SC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Greenville, SC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rockville, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.