average cost of a 2 bedroom apartment in Greenville (Rock Hill, Fort Mill: apartments, rent)

[hollimarie]

I am an English teacher, currently living in Kingsport, TN, and have several interviews lined up throughout South Carolina. To be honest, my head is spinning from the demand for teachers. In less than one week of posting my application and credentials in the South Carolina teacher database, I had six phone interviews, and all have resulted in invitations to come to the school for second interviews. I am going to Walterboro, York and Chester next week, but now have another interview lined up in Greenville. I might be fortunate enough to be picky about what area I move to.

At any rate, I have done research on the other areas, and now need information on Greenville too, since it's now on my list of possible places to relocate to.

Prior to living in TN, I was living in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I know that the cost of living will be quite higher than in Eastern TN, where my rent is only $365. (Of course, there's a good reason why I am leaving Eastern TN: Lack of teaching jobs, offensively low rates of pay.....I suppose it's a balance for a low cost of living, but with a Masters of Degree, I can't justify making $8 an hour doing secretary work!)

In Florida, (Spring Hill to be exact) I paid $670 for a 2-bedroom apartment.

Would Greenville be within that range, or higher?

In the other areas I have researched, SC largely seems more affordable than Florida, apart from a few select areas.

The salaries at the various schools are basically same, with Greenville paying $500 more a year than York. Waltersboro has the lowest pay.

Hopefully someone can give me an idea about the cost of living in Greenville, and possibly compare it to York and Waltersboro. (There's also a school in Chester, but if I get that job, I will live in York, as I was already warned that Chester might not be the best area for my husband and I.)

Thanks so much!

Also, what areas would be easiest to find an apartment in a short period of time. Would it be like Florida, where most places want First and last month's rent PLUS security?

In TN, it was one month rent and a deposit.

[jpoole52]

Hi there,

I'm an English/Spanish teacher from Michigan who just relocated here from Michigan. I'd be glad to help you out in any way possible since people on here were so great to me Have you seen the area? If not, I WOULD! It's beautiful, Greenville is definitely one of the better districts it the state based on the research I've done.

The range of apartments is HUGE. I found mine on apartmentfinder and you can find all the pricing information on there. Oh, and by the way, if you ask, a LOT of the apartments here offer large discounts to teachers, you can just ask if they do a preferred employer discount for Greenville County School employees. Mine didn't, but when I told them about all their competitors that did, they gave me 5% off per month I pay $455 for a one bedroom, which is lower for here, but I still like my apartment pretty well. any of those apartments do not charge a deposit for teachers (you can see GCS website for relocation incentives and did you know that they pay $500 of every class you take) And it's very easy to get an apartment... mine only wanted the month's rent plus a $150 deposit (by the way, mYou can also find some good deals on Craigslist.com once in a while.

I also interviewed in York and the Fort Mill Rock Hill area and liked it here MUCH better. Sorry I can't compare cost of living though...

Anyways, I hope you decide to relocate here... I'm sure it was a great decision for me. If you'd like inside input on the schools you are interviewing at, I might be able to help as the schools here vary SO MUCH from one to the other. I interviewed at 5 and had my pick from four, all of which were very different.

Best of luck! Email me if you have questions jpoole52@yahoo.com

[hollimarie]

I just emailed you. I accepted a position with Greenville Schools. I appreciate your advice. York was my second choice, but the Greenville charm captured me!!!

[GoPadge]

Congrats Holli!