DC to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 493 mile interstate move from DC to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (victorian and federal vs colonial and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in South Carolina is 31.12% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to South Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended DC to South Carolina movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to South Carolina
- High cost of living
- Harsh winters
- Heavy traffic
- Overcrowded urban areas
- Limited outdoor activities
- Lower cost of living
- Mild winters
- Lesser congestion
- Spacious suburbs
- Abundant nature trails
- Fewer cultural venues
- Less dining variety
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited job opportunities
- Car-dependent locations
- Cultural amenities
- Top-tier restaurants
- Rich history
- Diverse job market
- Robust public transport
Pros of moving from DC to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to South Carolina with mild winters
- Swap the heavy traffic of DC for lesser congestion in South Carolina
- Get ready for spacious suburbs in South Carolina
Cons of moving from DC to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural amenities in DC to live with fewer cultural venues in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of top-tier restaurants and have to settle for the con of less dining variety
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in South Carolina
- Swap the diverse job market for limited job opportunities
DC vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce Wings | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks Varies | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | Impossible Burger | Collard Greens |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from DC to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Wings and sumptuous Food Trucks Varies, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Impossible Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Home Team BBQ, Husk, and Poogan's Porch.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Carolina, compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and South Carolina
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian and Federal | Colonial and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, historic charm | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods |
- The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Carolina is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Carolina is less bike-friendly than DC.
- South Carolina has less of an urban feel than DC.
- South Carolina housing costs are 53% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in South Carolina is 31.12% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and South Carolina
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Severe storms, rare earthquakes | Hurricanes, severe storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88/71 | 90/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/29 | 60/38 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40 | 49 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 7% more sunshine days than DC.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible severe storms and rare earthquakes in DC, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and severe storms in South Carolina.
- The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 2 degrees warmer than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 9 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and South Carolina
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 6.5 | 7 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56 | 0.57 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6 | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, tourism, education | Manufacturing, agriculture, tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Higher | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 37% less than in DC
- The COLI in South Carolina is 31% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in SC is 7 compared to 6.5 in DC
- The affluence in South Carolina is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is higher in South Carolina compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is higher in DC and lower in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. South Carolina
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Majority Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal policies; strong focus on federal government issues | Conservative policies; emphasis on state rights |
Religion | More secular; diverse religions | Primarily Protestant; strong religious community presence |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as majority Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with a strong religious community presence
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more secular with diverse religions
Education Guide When Moving from DC to South Carolina
Comparison | DC | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland George Washington University University of Virginia | University of South Carolina Clemson University Coastal Carolina University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary (Washington) Janney Elementary (Washington) Lafayette Elementary (Washington) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Meeting Street Academy (Charleston) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) McKinley Middle School (Washington) | Montessori School of Anderson (Anderson) Greenville Middle Academy (Greenville) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) |
Top 3 High School Schools | School Without Walls High School (Washington) Banneker High School (Washington) McKinley Tech High School (Washington) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) St. Albans School (Washington) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Ashley Hall (Charleston) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maret School (Washington) The Field School (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) | Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Lexington School District One Greenville County Schools Charleston County School District |
How Much Do DC to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 493 miles from DC to South Carolina will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,260 | 300 ft3 | $4.20 |
1 Bedroom | $1,870 | 450 ft3 | $4.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,085 | 750 ft3 | $4.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,479 | 1100 ft3 | $4.07 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,446 | 1600 ft3 | $4.03 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,176 | 1800 ft3 | $3.99 |
Top DC to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Bookstore Movers
Best moving company overall for DC to South Carolina

Mic's Moving
