City Comparison

Greenville vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Greenville

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

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

3.3%

Newport News is 3.3% less expensive than Greenville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Greenville would need approximately $72,632 in Newport News to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
85
Greenville
75
Newport News
Groceries
98
Greenville
99
Newport News
Utilities
96
Greenville
104
Newport News
Transportation
97
Greenville
96
Newport News
Healthcare
103
Greenville
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Greenville has the same purchasing power as $72,632 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $77,446 in Greenville.

Living in Greenville vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Greenville's housing index of 85 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $261,000. The $11,000 difference in home prices means roughly $720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Greenville compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Greenville and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Greenville vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 96 in Greenville and 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Greenville vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Greenville and 111 in Newport News. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,912 in Greenville and $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,486 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,141/month to housing in Greenville vs $1,624/month in Newport News. In Greenville, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News is 3.3% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Greenville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,632 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Greenville's housing index is 85 with median homes at $250,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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