City Comparison

Duluth vs Greenville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

Greenville

South Carolina
95
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$48,912
Median Income

The Verdict

10.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.5%, with Duluth being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to $83,824 in Greenville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
88
Duluth
85
Greenville
Groceries
99
Duluth
98
Greenville
Utilities
94
Duluth
96
Greenville
Transportation
100
Duluth
97
Greenville
Healthcare
123
Duluth
103
Greenville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $83,824 in Greenville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Greenville equals $67,105 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Greenville

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is higher Greenville's 85, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $250,000. The $18,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,200/mo in Greenville, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 98 in Greenville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $466/month in Greenville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 96 in Greenville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $384 in Greenville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 103 in Greenville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $48,912 in Greenville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $51,486 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,141/month in Greenville. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Greenville, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 10.5% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,824 in Greenville, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Greenville's is 85 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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