$100k salary, packing up from Tulsa

change
Spartanburg, SC cityscape

next stop after tulsa

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

$230

the monthly premium over Tulsa

Spartanburg costs meaningfully more. Whether it earns that back in the day-to-day is the actual question.
landable, recorded on the spartanburg entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,434/mo

6% more expensive than Tulsa(vs $1,350/mo)

02state income tax

6.5%

$146/mo more in state tax than Tulsa

vs 4.75% in Tulsa

03after rent

$6,358/mo

$230 less than Tulsa

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

04a house here

$277k

10% more expensive than Tulsa

vs $253k in Tulsa

05metro size

383k

vs 1.0M in Tulsa

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

191

pleasant days a year, in spartanburg.

Tulsa only manages 163 of those.

But the calendar thins out: Tulsa stays 2.5× busier.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

68/100

39% higher than Tulsa

vs 49/100 in Tulsa

Closest outdoor draw: Croft State Park, 5 mi.

·walk score®

77/100

0% lower than Tulsa

vs 77/100 in Tulsa

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

20

11% more than Tulsa

vs 18 nonstops in Tulsa

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