Greenville, SC: Live Like a Local

Get the inside scoop on what life is like in this South Carolina city.

By Rebecca Treon on October 4, 2023

Les Duggins

Greenville, located in the heart of South Carolina’s Upstate region, offers a vibrant downtown, a performing arts center, a sports arena, nationally recognized museums, and dozens of parks and places to recreate. The city is not only the hub of the area’s culture and entertainment, but it offers an affordable cost of living, excellent higher education and career opportunities, and a welcoming and inclusive community.

Chris Taylor, chief of staff at the University of South Carolina Upstate in nearby Spartanburg, and his wife relocated to Greenville in 2021 from Atlanta so he could continue working with USC Upstate’s Chancellor Bennie Harris, with whom he had worked previously.

How accessible is Greenville when it comes to getting around?

What I like about Greenville and Upstate, in general, is that you can get around pretty easily, apart from rush hour traffic between Greenville and Spartanburg. Greenville has a smaller downtown area that is walkable and beautiful, and the people here are absolutely friendly and accommodating, which I really like. We also have proximity to the mountains, or to Asheville, or even heading to the beach in Charleston or Hilton Head. It’s sitting in the perfect place.

What is the average rent or cost of a mortgage in Greenville?

I’d say here, a two-bedroom will run you between $1,800 to $2,000 a month, whereas in Atlanta, it might run you $2,500 and up, but often people will live together to afford rent in higher-end locations. As far as buying a home, inventory doesn’t last long. We’ve had quite a few people move here from California and the Northwest, because the cost of living is so much cheaper, and they’ll buy a home without seeing it in person.

With people having access to remote work, they can live in an area that is more desirable, especially considering the cost savings of everyday life, from gas to groceries, rent or mortgage – it’s much easier to do that here. South Carolina is very business-friendly in terms of its taxation and has done a great job of attracting large businesses to the state. Sixty-eight percent of graduates stay in the Upstate, so we are a human capital resource, too.

What are a few of the restaurants you love in town, and what does a meal cost?

Maestro’s Bistro is one of the places we’ve enjoyed. They have American food, and lunch will run about $25. Hall’s Chophouse is a steakhouse, and dinner there is around $150. There’s also a place called Grill Marks that has some of the best burgers. It’s downtown, and burgers are around $15.