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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Rockville, MD costs about 7% more than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.03 $21.03
$25.17 $25.17
-16.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3 $80.3
$99.2 $99.2
-19.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 $10.40
$11.87 $11.87
-12.38%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$5.53 $5.53
-1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.00 $3.00
-17.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.38 $2.38
-10.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.45 $6.45
$5.90 $5.90
9.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46 $7.46
$6.82 $6.82
9.38%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.98 $0.98
26.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$3.75 $3.75
2.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$4.55 $4.55
-1.98%
Eggs
$4.13 $4.13
$3.04 $3.04
35.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 $13.49
$12.92 $12.92
4.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.74 $14.74
$14.90 $14.90
-1.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.20 $16.20
$19.45 $19.45
-16.71%
Apples (1kg)
$6.71 $6.71
$8.20 $8.20
-18.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.07 $2.07
-22.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$7.34 $7.34
-12.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$5.57 $5.57
-4.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$4.82 $4.82
-40.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.83 $3.83
-26.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.43 $2.43
-26.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.20 $2.20
19.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.81 $11.81
$6.85 $6.85
72.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$15.08 $15.08
-2.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.60 $1.60
41.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.92 $2.92
22.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.60 $2.60
$5.08 $5.08
-48.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 $138
$50.7 $50.7
173.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.48 $3.48
-16.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.51 $1.51
-11.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.41 $24.41
$17.93 $17.93
36.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.76 $0.76
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$35.9K $35.9K
-12.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$24.9K $24.9K
2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$156 $156
10.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.41 $46.41
$53.8 $53.8
-13.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$61.7 $61.7
15.52%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.24 $42.24
$72.1 $72.1
-41.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.55 $12.55
$10.12 $10.12
24.01%
Cinema Ticket
$15.10 $15.10
$13.02 $13.02
15.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,750 $1,750
$1,731 $1,731
1.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.0K $33.0K
$9,923 $9,923
232.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 $51.1
$47.32 $47.32
7.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7 $52.7
$46.38 $46.38
13.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.7 $93.7
$97.0 $97.0
-3.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$141 $141
-16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,816 $1,816
13.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 $1,580
$1,429 $1,429
10.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,831 $3,831
$2,880 $2,880
33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,156 $3,156
$2,455 $2,455
28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,247 $4,247
$2,023 $2,023
109.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,412 $2,412
$1,970 $1,970
22.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Rockville, MD
Greenville, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,333 $6,333
$4,311 $4,311
46.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.59
-0.61%

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

Last update for Rockville, MD: June 1, 2026

Last update for Greenville, SC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,067 in Rockville, MD versus $1,816 in Greenville, SC. 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 $80.0 in Rockville, MD versus $99.0 in Greenville, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 vs $462 – 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
Rockville, MD vs Greenville, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greenville, SC cheaper than Rockville, MD?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,538 per month in Rockville, MD and $4,259 in Greenville, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 173% less in Greenville, SC. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,750 per month in Rockville, MD and $1,731 in Greenville, SC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Rockville, MD or Greenville, SC?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,025 in Rockville, MD and $2,839 in Greenville, SC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Rockville, MD or Greenville, SC more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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