Hawaii to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living expenses), food & health (like Poke vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs colonial, charleston single), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Spam Musubi, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 66% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in South Carolina is 43.64% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to South Carolina movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Hawaii to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to South Carolina
- High cost of living
- Remote location
- Limited land space
- Isolation
- Higher taxes
- Lower living expenses
- Mainland connectivity
- More spacious homes
- Variety of cities
- Tax-friendly policies
- Lacks coastal scenery
- Seasonal weather changes
- Cultural shift
- Less biodiversity
- Cuisine variety lessened
- Stunning beaches
- Year-round warm weather
- Strong cultural identity
- Diverse ecology
- Unique cuisine
Pros of moving from Hawaii to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living expenses
- Look forward to moving away from a remote location and moving to South Carolina with mainland connectivity
- Swap the limited land space of Hawaii for more spacious homes in South Carolina
- Get ready for a variety of cities in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Hawaii to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning beaches in Hawaii to live with a lack of coastal scenery in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of year-round warm weather and have to settle for the con of seasonal weather changes
- Time to bid farewell to a strong cultural identity and get used to a cultural shift in South Carolina
- Swap diverse ecology for less biodiversity
Hawaii vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Spam Musubi | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Manapua | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Collard Greens |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Spam Musubi and sumptuous Manapua, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl 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 Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Alan Wong's, and Leonard's Bakery. 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, Poogan's Porch, and Husk.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Carolina, compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and South Carolina
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Colonial, Charleston Single |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean views, Lanais | Lake access, Porches |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Single architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and porches.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Carolina is less walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- South Carolina has less of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- South Carolina housing costs are 66% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in South Carolina is 43.64% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and South Carolina
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, Tsunamis | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 91°F / 71°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 60°F / 38°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.70 | 49.57 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 1-2 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 20% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in South Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 6 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 25 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 14.1 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and South Carolina
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.4% | 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 7.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 31% less than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 42% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in SC is 7% compared to 4.4% in HI
- The affluence in South Carolina is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in South Carolina compared to low in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic Majority | Republican Majority |
Local Politics | Progressive Policies | Conservative Policies |
Religion | Mixed, with Buddhist and Christian communities | Primarily Christian, Evangelical Protestant |
- Hawaii tends to lean Democratic Majority in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as Republican Majority
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian and Evangelical Protestant
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with Buddhist and Christian communities
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to South Carolina
Comparison | Hawaii | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu | University of South Carolina Clemson University Coastal Carolina University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mililani Mauka Elementary (Mililani) Momilani Elementary (Pearl City) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mt. Pleasant Academy (Mt. Pleasant) Forest Lake Elementary (Columbia) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Greenville Middle (Greenville) Gold Hill Middle (Fort Mill) Hand Middle (Columbia) |
Top 3 High Schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hawaii Preparatory Academy (Waimea) Le Jardin Academy (Kailua) Maui Preparatory Academy (Napili) | Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) Pinewood Preparatory School (Summerville) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) |
Top 3 School Districts | Honolulu District Central Oahu District Windward Oahu District | Fort Mill School District Lexington School District One Greenville County School District |
Top Hawaii to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for Hawaii to South Carolina