Cost of living in Greenville, SC
 

I am comparing cost of living in different areas we are considering for retirement, and am interested in utility expenses, cost of gasoline, etc. in the Greenville SC area. How big is your house and how much do you spend on electricity during the summer months? (I am presuming the air conditioner runs almost constantly due to the humidity.) What month does the humidity really start and when does it end? What is the current price of gasoline? How much is sales tax/state income tax? Any other information would be appreciated.

I don't have the specifics, but Greenville has very reasonable housing and cost of living. How much someone's electric bill would be would be based on the energy efficiency of the home and the person's habits.

Peggy, here's a site I have bookmarked regarding taxes:

http://tinyurl.com/rqubv

SC is changing its tax structure to attract retirees. Property taxes will be cut/eliminated and sales tax will go up on everything but food. There is a lot of controversy about who will benefit. If you buy a beach house, yes you will gain.

Overall housing prices here are very reasonable.

I live in Upstate SC (25 miles from G-Vegas) - 2000 sf house (built in 1920), air conditioner 5 yrs old, average summer electric bill $140-$175. Bought gas today for $2.76 (SC has some of the lowest gas taxes in the US). Sales tax is currently 5%, as is income tax. As previously stated, this is all up for reconsideration, but has been debated for years.

Humidity starts in earnest in late May/June, gets really serious with the summer solstice, and lasts until mid-to-late September.

Cost of living (housing) - location, location, location. But, to give a rough idea, a 2500-sf house in a good neighborhood would start around $250,000, but could be as high as $400,000, again depending on location.

Hope this helps.

I will contribute a perspective from being 60 miles north of Greenville in Asheville NC...gas is ALWAYS at least 10cents cheaper per gallon because they have less state tax. Yesterday I saw the same prices as Bob reported to you and housing is probably 10-20% or more less expensive. Greenville is a little higher up and therefore gets a little less humid than other parts of the state but I would say that many are probably turning ac on for at least part of May and off in Sept - depending on the weather and other features in their homes - shade trees, whole house fans, personal preferences and of course the weather.

Thanks for the information. This is very helpful. I love this website!

2400 sq foot house w/ 12 ft ceilings, a pool filter running, and a hot-natured yankee living in it meant $200 power bill this month. Yikes....that's my all time record since we built the new house...but beware, I saw a $400 bill in my former smaller, but older and not well insulated house. BTW, it's not the humidity that makes you run a/c...it's heat. Humidity is what makes you feel like hell when you go OUTSIDE.

Gas is cheaper here than most of the country. Sales tax is 5%, but food is about to drop to 3%. Max income tax rate is 7%.

While housing costs are lower here than many places, they do not seem to be cooling as is reported elsewhere. Land prices are going through the roof. Large parcels all around me are asking $25k-30k an acre. (by large I mean anywhere from 10 to 90 acres)