Skip to main content
Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Greenville, SC vs Columbia, SC

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Greenville spends 116.6% more per capita than Columbia ($23,197/person difference). Columbia, SC has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Greenville, SC
Pop. 70,838
D
46/100
Budget Balance23
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Columbia, SC
Pop. 136,754
B
65/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency62
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Greenville
Columbia
Total Spending
$3.1B
$2.7B
Spending / Capita
$43,093
$19,896
Total Revenue
$1.3B
$8.8B
Revenue / Capita
$17,967
$64,353
Total Debt
$0
$190.0M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,389
Population
70,838
136,754
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Greenville$4,914
Columbia$0
Fire Protection
Greenville$2,341
Columbia$467
Highways & Roads
Greenville$842
Columbia$454
Parks & Recreation
Greenville$2,637
Columbia$1,265
Health
Greenville$3,014
Columbia$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

GreenvilleColumbia
Property Tax
$1,988
$0
Sales Tax
$643
$623
Income Tax
$1,116
$42
Intergovernmental
$17,967
$6,842
Charges & Fees
$0
$8,276
Other
$4,746
$6,537

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

GreenvilleColumbia
Police
$4,914
$0
Fire Protection
$2,341
$467
Highways & Roads
$842
$454
Public Welfare
$1,226
$433
Health
$3,014
$0
Hospitals
$159
$1,042
Parks & Recreation
$2,637
$1,265
Housing
$11,807
$3,604
Sewerage
$551
$141
Utilities
$3,041
$4,665
Other
$12,562
$7,824
D
Greenville, SC
Fiscal Health Score: 46/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Columbia, SC
Fiscal Health Score: 65/100
Good fiscal health

Compare More Cities