$100k salary, packing up from Fresno

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

if you left fresno

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

$799

less monthly outlay than Fresno

The gap is real. Spartanburg costs noticeably less than Fresno, every month.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

28% cheaper than Fresno(vs $1,999/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$233/mo less in state tax than Fresno

vs 9.3% in Fresno

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$799 more than Fresno

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

04a house here

$277k

34% cheaper than Fresno

vs $418k in Fresno

05metro size

383k

vs 1.2M in Fresno

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Fresno has the edge here, logging 206 pleasant days a year.

61% fewer events than Fresno. The pace eases up.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

3% higher than Fresno

vs 66/100 in Fresno

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

13% lower than Fresno

vs 89/100 in Fresno

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

82% more than Fresno

vs 11 nonstops in Fresno

04 · see also

same energy as spartanburg, different zip code:

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