$100k a year, no longer in Albany

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left albany

Spartanburg

sc · metro 383k

photo: Jenny Gregg / pexels

a dispatch from

spartanburg

SC

34.95°N

81.93°W

Spartanburg is the Upstate of South Carolina, with rolling foothills, peach orchards (yes, South Carolina actually grows more peaches than Georgia in some years), and the largest BMW manufacturing plant in the world just outside town. The downtown's been revitalizing with breweries and restaurants. Wofford and Converse keep college energy in town. The Blue Ridge is right there.

metro383k

in our guides

#5

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#7

of 10

Most vibrant and affordable cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for retirees who love the outdoors

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities for mild four-season weather

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Los Angeles for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Austin

read the guide
#3

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Denver

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best small cities to live in

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave Phoenix for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to leave Denver for

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave Austin for

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $75k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities to buy a home

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities in the Carolinas

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities for a $60k salary

read the guide
#1

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Boise

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$155

under Albany, every month

Cost barely budges between Spartanburg and Albany. Pick this one for the texture of the days, not the math.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

13% cheaper than Albany(vs $1,643/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$54/mo more in state tax than Albany

vs 5.85% in Albany

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$155 more than Albany

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$277k

23% cheaper than Albany

vs $361k in Albany

05metro size

383k

vs 905k in Albany

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Albany barely cracks 147 pleasant ones.

Albany hosts 1.7× more events.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

6% lower than Albany

vs 72/100 in Albany

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

15% lower than Albany

vs 91/100 in Albany

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

5% more than Albany

vs 19 nonstops in Albany

04 · see also

cities that play in spartanburg's register:

see also

greenville

better weather

turn the page

see also

hickory

$166/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

richmond

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

compare spartanburg with:

GreenvilleHickoryRichmond