How much does it cost to call GVL home? | Photo by @_stephanieking
With Greenville constantly growing and undertaking multiple high-profile developments this year, we figured it was time to talk about the cost of planting some roots in Greenville.
The median household income in Greenville County is $62,422 according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, SC is 41 in the country for median income at ~$67,521 per household.
The overall cost of living in Greenville is lower than the national average, but higher than the rest of the state.
In Greenville, the cost of healthcare is lower compared to other parts of the state + the US, and the cost of groceries, housing, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have lower average costs than the country overall.
Breaking down the numbers
Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $50,000 annually —according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent and utilities. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly budget would be $1,250. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Greenville is $1,370 — putting you over budget.
According to a recent study by Attom Data Solutions, it’s actually more affordable to buy a home in Greenville County than to rent.
Take a look at the chart below to see how Greenville’s cost of living compares to that of Columbia.
Interested in seeing Greenville’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on nerdwallet’s cost of living calculator, where you can put in any city along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what other cities you could actually afford to live in.
We took a look at the cost of living in Greenville compared to Columbia. Here’s what we found:
The cost of living is 2% lowerin Columbia.
To maintain our standard of living, we would need to bring in $48,824 to our Columbia household.
The median cost for a two-bedroom apartment is $841, compared to $1,053 in Greenville
There are also a number of local development firms working on apartments seemingly all the time — from Greenville Housing Fund’s affordable housing units near Unity Park to the affordable housing development from the city of Greenville at Water Tower Crossing.
What would you tell someone who is considering moving here about the cost of living?
A. Prepare yourself for sticker shock - it’s expensive B. Prices are reasonable - not exorbitant, not cheap C. This is a really affordable city to live
Eric Neumann | Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 7 p.m. | Comedy Zone Greenville, 221 N. Main St., Greenville | $20 | This chart-topping late night comedian makes his Greenville debut.
Fiddler On The Roof | Tuesday, Nov. 15-Sunday, Nov. 20 | Times vary | Peace Center, 300 S. Main St., Greenville | $35-$124 | See Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher’s “fresh and authentic vision” to the 10 time Tony Award-winning + longest running Broadway play.
Buy One, Get One Free Bowls at Southern Pressed Juicery | Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Southern Pressed Juicery, 2 West Washington St., Greenville | $11-$12 | Treat yourself (and a friend) to a refreshing Butter Me Up, Bees Knees, or The Green Monstah Bowl During Southern Pressed Juicery’s buy one, get one free sale.*
Wednesday, Nov. 16
Buckhead Betties Outlet Sale | Wednesday, Nov. 16 - Saturday, Nov. 19 | Times vary | Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr., Greenville | Prices vary | Shop apparel, accessories + more for up to 85% off retail at this traveling outlet sale.
Thursday, Nov. 17
North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Concert | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Daniel Memorial Chapel at Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville | Free | Listen to this concert hosted by the Furman Department of Music.
Vista Lights presented by Prisma Health | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 6-10 p.m. | The Vista, 1200 Lincoln St., Columbia | Free | During this free, annual celebration that kicks off the holidays, over 60 restaurants, shops + galleries open their doors.*
Friday, Nov. 18
Indie Craft Parade Holiday Pop-Up Shop | Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Makers Collective, 2909 Old Buncombe Rd., Greenville | Free entry | Shop a mix of handmade art, home goods, jewelry, and children’s items from 25+ makers.
Saturday, Nov. 19
Zoom Through the Zoo | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 6:30-10 a.m. | Greenville Zoo, Greenville | $25 | Race through the Greenville Zoo with this 5K hosted by the Greenville Track Club.
The Commons 3 Year Anniversary | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 7 a.m.-10 p.m. | The Commons, 147 Welborn St., Greenville | Free entry | Sip on a special beer collaboration + enjoy food specials.
Saturday, Dec. 31
Heritage Glitz & Glam New Year’s Eve Dinner | Sat., Dec. 31, 2022 | 6 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC | Dinner included in package price | Enjoy a plated dinner Old Hollywood style with a live Rat Pack Era band — part of the NYE Package.*
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
City Editor Kyle here 👋. The only thing I love more than eating pizza? Making it. I took a hands-on pizza-making class at Greenville Tech’s Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center (CHI), where we got our hands dirty, learned a lot, and feasted on our creations.
Read on to see how the class went + to learn how you can Try This yourself.
What we tried (with pricing):
I joined nine classmates for a three-hour class in CHI’s commercial kitchen. We each received an apron and acourse packet with recipes + ingredients to make dough and sauce. Different spices and toppings were at our disposal to personalize our two Neapolitan pizzas and one additional style ‘za (Sicilian or Detroit) — all to be cooked in CHI’s woodfire ovens — and, of course, to be eaten afterward.
Hands-onclasses like this are $89, and demonstrations + tastings are $39. Hungry yet? Click below to get a slice of the action. 🧑🍳*
BMWwill open a 60,000-sqft Vehicle Accessories Center near its assembly plant in Greer. The $25 million facility is expected to create 60 new jobs + will install accessories (think: wheels, decals, trim pieces, and floor mats) into cars before they go to dealerships. 🚙
Development
Plans to turn the historic Davenport Apartments (located at the corner of South Church and East Washington Streets) into Airbnb rentals were not approved by the Greenville Board of Zoning Appeals. Neighbors said they were worried about noise, increased traffic, and the loss of neighbors within residential communities. (Greenville Journal)
Announced
On that midnight train to Greenville. Grammy winner Gladys Knight is coming to the Peace Center on Thurs., Feb. 23. Tickets go on sale Fri., Nov. 18 at 10 a.m., but are available to Peacekeepers starting today. 🎤
Number
3,619. That’s how many patents there are in Greenville County, putting it in the top 2.5% of counties nationwide. The Greenville Chamber shared the data, which includes a breakdown of the patent types.
14,000 pounds. That’s the total weight of electronic wastecollected by the City of Greenville’s Public Works Department at its event over the weekend. Crews unloaded 561 cars + helped shred 10 tons of paper. 📻
History
What was Greenville like in 1823? The Greenville Journal shared an excerpt from The Charleston Daily Courier describing the Reedy River, Falls Park + the mills that made Greenville the textile capital of the world. History buffs, it’s a fascinating must-read.
Job
We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships across all 25 of our cities nationwide. This exec would have the opportunity to sell into all 6AM City markets, pitching the most relevant and modern media offering in town while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO.Learn more + apply.
Health
Open enrollment is here. If you’re under 65 and looking for quality health coverage, schedule an appointment at your local South Carolina Blue Retail Center. Conveniently located on Woodruff Road, health insurance experts are ready to help you find coverage to fit your needs and budget.*
Try This
Daunted by a long holiday shopping list? Quick cash idea: List your extra storage spaces on Neighbor. You can rent out anything from closets and sheds todriveways and parking spots.Bonus: Listing your space is free. 💸*
Fact or Fiction
By 2030, more than two-thirds of wealth in the US will be held by women. Fact or fiction? Answer here. 💵 *
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Bottle shop selections at Wine House | Photo by GVLtoday
The countdown to Thanksgiving is on, and ICYMI, we put together a spread full of Greenville dishes, but no meal is complete without something to drink.
If you’re headed to a BYOB event or want to thank your host with a bottle of wine, we’ve put together a few local spots for boozy beverages.
The Community Tap, Multiple locations | Shop craft beer (and wine) from local, regional + national breweries to wow your guests with something unique. DYK online ordering is available at the North Main + Travelers Rest locations?
Have a favorite local brewery? Pro tip: Check for canned selections or order a growler to go.
🍷 Wine
Taxi House Wines, 586 Perry Ave. | Select a bottle from 80+ curated selections from around the world focused on sustainable practices from small family-owned wineries.
Wine House, 475 Haywood Rd., #8 | Stop in for a taste and take home a few bottles for the holiday from its one-of-a-kind selection.
🥃 Spirits
Six and Twenty, 556 Perry Ave., B103 | From grain to glass, bring a local liquor to your holiday festivities with your favorite type of spirit distilled right here in Greenville.
Looking for mocktails, coffee, or tea? Check out our drink superlatives for some drinkspiration.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Danielle.
Editor’s pick:Today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. I didn’t know that was a thing until today, but it turns out I celebrated this past weekend in preparation for Turkey Day. I did keep a couple bottles of wine I bought last time I went to Taxi House Wines.
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